Woodstock, ON – The Amherstburg Stars Minor Bantam won a thriller in Double Overtime to take the Woodstock regional Silver Stick championship. As a result, the Stars gained the Southern Ontario berth at the International Silver Stick North American finals, January 12 -15, 2012, in Newmarket, Ontario.
In round-robin action Saturday, the Stars opened with a 4-1 victory over the St. Catharines Warriors of the Niagara District Hockey League (OMHA). Goal scorers were: Jack Hubbell, Zack Yott, Reid Thrasher and Nicholas Bertram. Carrying the momentum from their first game, next on the docket were the Meadowvale Mohawks of the Mississauga Hockey League. Amherstburg prevailed 3-1 behind Captain Garret Blunt’s hat-trick.
The Stars’ final round-robin match-up was against the Cambridge Hawks of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario. The Hawks defeated the visibly tired Stars 3-0, who were playing their third game of the day. The Stars ended round-robin play at 2 wins and 1 loss, good for 2nd place in Pool B and a date in the semi-finals against the top-seeded squad from Pool A, Woodstock Jr Navy Vets.
The Sunday morning game between the Stars and the Jr Navy Vets was a spirited affair, with both teams looking to gain an early advantage. The Stars scored 2 unanswered goals in the first two periods – Jack Hubbell in the 1st period and Jarrod Benninger in the 2nd – to open a 2-0 lead. The Jr Navy Vets answered with one of their own in the 3rd period, drawing to within 1 goal, but that was as close as the game would get, with the Stars prevailing 2-1.
In the Championship game, the Stars faced the North London Nationals – their second Minor Hockey Allicance of Ontario team of the day. Both teams played a defensive style throughout, with few scoring chances for either team. Regulation time settled nothing, so the teams headed to overtime tied at zero. The first OT period ended the way it began, so the scoreless game headed to double OT.
The determined Stars quickly moved the puck into the Nationals’ zone to start the period. Passing the puck confidently around the zone, the Stars fired a shot at the Nationals’ goalie. The resulting rebound came out to the goalie’s right, where it was immediately fired into the net by Jake Topliffe, 32 seconds into the 2nd OT period. Jack Langlois backstopped the Stars with outstanding shutout goaltending, including a 3rd period save that amazed all in attendance.
The Stars, led by head coach Bob Mathieson, assistants Dave Langlois and Rick Lafleur, and trainer Stu Bertram now prepare for their second consecutive trip to the North American finals.
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