What a way to cap off this amazing season! 75 games in total to be crowned OMHA Champions!
The OMHA got exactly what they wanted in this seasons U16 AA division. 7 of the top 9 teams in Ontario were at this tournament!
The Guelph Gryphons started the round robin vs another Tri-County opponent, Glancaster Bombers. The nerves would show and the Bombers goalie came to steal this one. At the end of regulation the game was tied 1-1. With no OT this would be the result.
Up next the boys were against the #6 ranked Barrie Colts. This is a team they have history with as Barrie beat them last season in the OMHA finals and this year in the International Silver Stick finals. This time the Gryphons nerves would not get the best of them and they would come and out play Barrie start to finish to take the game 3-0.
Game 3 would be the toughest test of the tournament as #1 ranked Whitby Wildcats were next. Midway through the 1st, Whitby would jump out to a 1-0 lead. Whitby held that lead heading into the 3rd, where a min in, they scored again. 8 mins later they would notch their 3rd and final goal and thus taking the game 3-0.
With a little help from Barrie (beating Glancaster) the Gryphons would lock up 2nd place in the division and a semi final berth vs Halton Hills.
This game being a must win and the Gryphons having been in this spot vs Halton already, they knew what they had to do to get it done! Just over 2 mins into the game the Gryphons would jump out to a 1-0 lead. They held this lead into the 2nd where again just over 2 mins in they would score again! Half way through the 2nd Halton would get a break and put one home. 2-1 heading into the 3rd the Gryphons knew all well Halton wasn't going to roll over for them. A great battle took the game right to the final seconds when the Gryphons scored an empty netter and a 3-1 victory!
The OMHA finals were now set with the Gryphons facing off against #1 Whitby. This would be a rematch for the ages. Being Easter weekend didn't stop family and friends coming to Oakville and packing the Gryphons stands.
The 1st period would go back and forth with a ton of action but scoreless heading into the 2nd. Just under a minute into the 2nd the Gryphons would pot one home and take the lead. Late in the period we would take a penalty and just before it expired Whitby would tie it up. The 3rd period would be wild with Whitby scoring half way through to take a 2-1 lead. With just over 3 mins left in the game Whitby would take a penalty setting the Gryphons up on their powerplay. Over a minute into it and just over 2 mins left in the game, the Gryphons would put a rebound in and tie the game. The crowd and bench erupted with joy. The championship game would end regulation in a tie, sending these top 2 teams to overtime. In OT, the teams would share opportunities but then just over 4 mins in, one of Whitby's defenceman blew a tire and sent a Gryphon in on a breakaway! With the crowd holding their breath, the bench on their feet, the Gryphons would score to take the OMHA Championships 3-2!! What a way to cap off this amazing season for these boys!
Congratulations to all the players and coaches for winning #Redhats!!!
Season highlights:
75 games played (only 3 of them with our full selected roster! Injuries and illness plagued this team all season but they always found a way to work through it).
Season record: W54 L15 T6 GF312 GA147
Stratford Regional Silver Stick Champions
Paul Coffey International Champions
International Silver Stick Finalists
Tri-County Champions
OMHA Champions
