The Kunkel Bus Lines Bantam AE’s are Georgian Bay Consolation Champs.
The Kunkel Bus Lines Bantam AE’s are Georgian Bay Consolation Champs. The team went 6-1-2 in the Georgian Bay Bantam AE B side battling Elmvale in the final 3 games to win the Championship Trophy. Owen Sound battled hard against Elmvale in every regular season game with an even record of 1-1-2 with the balance of wins tipping for Elmvale if you include a loss in the Muskoka tournament last fall. All five games were heated, emotional, rough and tumble hockey.
The playoffs are always an opportunity for
a team to show it’s true colors, for a player or two to step up and take a more
defensive or offensive roll or make some big stops in net to help a team win.
The first round of the playoffs was a round
robin format and went very well with only one loss against the perennial rival
from Dundalk. The second round five game
series vs Elmvale was anticipated as a good matchup based on our regular season
and playoff record.
The first game was played tightly in
Elmvale with teams trading three goals apiece until an exciting last second
goal gave OS the win. Game two was a
breakout game with OS winning 8-1 at home at the Bayshore.
A game three loss at home would mean
another trip to Elmvale for a 930pm Friday night battle. Parents and coaches were pretty determined
that that would not happen. Parents and
coaches don’t play the game, the kids do.
All we could do is watch and hope as the boys tried for a game three win
and consolation championship at home.
There is an unwritten rule about blowing out
a team in the playoffs. Usually it means
the blown out team comes back to win the next game. In this case Elmvale and Owen Sound traded opportunities
to score but carried a 0-0 draw into the second period. Parents started updating their smartphone
calendars with an unwanted trip to Elmvale on Friday. Tension mounted as the goalies were stingy
and it appeared a very close game could go to either team.
There was a big sigh of relief and a cheer
from the parents upon an opening goal by OS.
This goal was followed by a second and third goal by the end of the
game. Elmvale answered with a single
goal only giving Owen Sound a 3-1 win and the consolation championship trophy.
Although three separate goal scorers were
on the score sheet a team effort is what it takes to win. During the entire season players stepped up
with contributions in goal, on defense and on offence to help the team win it’s
last game and end the season on a high note.
A big thanks goes out to the coaching
staff, manager and trainer and to the parents who volunteered their time and
considerable efforts to support this great group of kids.