Beaver Sports
The Napanee Exit Realty Acceleration Bantam BB Stars are OMHA provincial champions after defeating the Thorold Blackhawks 2-1 on Saturday in a closely contested match to complete a sweep of their opponents.
They are the best of the 21 teams who were vying for gold at Bantam BB, a first for Napanee in over 25 years.
With the Stars leading four points to none with a chance to close it out in Game 3, Owen Gibson gave his team a lead on a feed from Jason Cameron. Late in the second, Quinton Pierce scored the eventual winner, with assists to Ethan Martin and Daniel Chase. The boys outshot Thorold 29-18, while Thorold took the lead in penalties- 36 minutes to Napanee’s 24.
“We scored late in the second to make it 2-0 and talking to the kids between the second and third, we told them it was going to take everything they’ve got to try and close it out on the road,” said Stars head coach Dave Pierce. “And they did that.”
A one-goal victory was a fitting end to the Stars’ season, who had gotten as far as they did on the strength of their goaltending and defense.
“I think what the coaching staff recognized early on was these kids loved to play a defensive type of hockey,” said Pierce. “Anybody that followed the team this year, they’ll tell you the same thing. This team killed penalties and played low scoring games unlike any team I’ve ever seen or been involved with. That bode well for them in the playoffs.”
Napanee won the previous two games facing Thorold 5-2 and 3-0 to give them a playoff record of 12-2-2 through four series. This was a group that relied on a true team approach with offense from many quarters, solid defence and dependable goaltending. They had a good mix of first year and second year boys to play with finesse, or play a physical game. The team had a bit of championship experience, as seven of the players won a provincial title at the peewee level last year before graduating to bantam.
In league play this year they were 18-3-1 outscoring opponents 107-29, and also were perfect in the Napanee Andy McGarvey Tournament, went 4-1 in the Prince Edward County’s Milk Tournament, as well as participating in the Ottawa Capital Showdown Tournament.
Pierce commended the team for buying into the philosophy of “we need everybody” in order to be successful.
“This group of kids put a tremendous amount of work in all year, and paid attention to every little detail that it takes to be a champion,” he said. “(I’m) just awfully proud to have been associated with these players, coaching staff, and parents.”
Pierce thanked the team’s sponsors, parents and families that helped them reach the provincial championship.
The team also had their chance to be saluted by the town when they were called onto the ice during intermission of the Napanee Raiders and Uxbridge Bruins’ playoff game Sunday night at the Strathcona Paper Centre.
The team is made up of Ryan Aldridge, Sam Rickard, Quinton Pierce, Carter McKee, Daniel Chase, Jack Osborne, Jakob Dacosta, Zach Slaven, Owen Gibson, Tye Kemp, Ethan Martin, Will Myers, Marshall Maracle, Cameron Pearson, Jason Cameron, Gavin Brooks, Jake Wood and Tyler Brady.