18-19 Bantam AAA | Jan 07, 2019 | ttorrance | 1554 views
Bantam AAA Generals Win Hard Fought Championship
The Oshawa Bantam AAA Minor Generals successfully defended their title in the Oshawa Challenge AAA tournament, after a thrilling victory in OT.
After winning this tournament last year at the minor bantam level, the boys were ready to defend their title. They did just that, but not without some feisty battles and hard fought minutes over the weekend.
On Friday morning they started off with a win over Nepean Raiders 6-2. In game two, they had a hard fought battle vs the Windsor Spitfires and came out on top 3-1. On Saturday, they played the Upper Canada Cyclones to a 3-3 tie despite out shooting them 39-15. Then, in their final round robin game, they had a spirited affair vs the Nickel City Sons from the Sudbury region. A win in this game would give them top seed. Despite playing shorthanded for 22 of the first 30 minutes, they came out on top 2-0.
The Sunday morning Semi final match up would be a rematch vs the Nickel City Sons, where they dominated to a 7-0 win. Thus, earning them a birth into the finals vs the Windsor Spitfires. With both teams playing a similar crash and bang style, the boys new they were in for a tough battle. The game started with big hits and the tempo and battles continued through the entire game. It was end to end action and great saves at both ends of the ice. The feisty Spitfires got up in the first period to a 2-0 lead. But the pesky Gens fought back as they have done all year, and got 4 in a row to take a 4 to 2 lead into the final frame. With 9:12 remaining the Spits hit the twine to make it a 4-3 game. The end to end action continued, as did the big hits, as the refs let the boys decide the game. With 4.5 seconds left and face off in Oshawa's end the bench was ready to pounce to the ice for a celebration. But the Spitfires had other plans and with less than 1 second - (.07 secs remaining) - the puck found its way into the net to tie the game up 4-4. Overtime featured 4 on 4 for 5 minutes and with 1:33 left, a deflected shot from the point moved the mesh as the Gens finally got the celly they were waiting for.
A great weekend of hockey and a fantastic finals.
The Oshawa Bantam AAA gens now return to league action where they have 13 games remaining. With a 18-4-1 record they are battling for a top spot.
GO GENS GO!!