Written by Barry Culmer
Already Regional and International Silver Stick Champions, the Legion Peewee Kinucks have added the OMHA All Ontario Peewee B Championship to close out their incredible record breaking season!
With a win and a tie against Wasaga Beach in the first two games of the OMHA Final, the Kinucks hosted game three on Wednesday 24 March in front of a full house at the Davidson Centre. “I got a feeling it’s gonna be a good night” by The Black Eyed Peas played at face off - and it was a good night as the boys pulled off a 4-2 win in a thrilling game to lead five points to one in the series. Wasaga started strongly, with Ethan Primeau making a big save early on but Kincardine grabbed the lead near the end of the first period when Dalton Hayes potted one from a scramble in front of the net. The Kinucks had a goal waved off at the start of the second period before Wasaga equalised four minutes in. Two excellent goals from Garrett McFadden before the end of the period, one with assists to Shane Vollmer and Brett Burrows, one after a backchecking Sam Culmer won the puck, put them back in front at 3-1. The Kinucks had some great opportunities in the third but couldn’t get the puck past a strong Stars goaltender. In an action packed final minute Wasaga got the reward for continuing to threaten by pulling one back. Then with 3.8 seconds left on the clock Ethan Skinner had the crowd on their feet, restoring the Kinucks two-goal advantage with an empty netter from an assist by Marshall Smith.
The boys headed to Wasaga Beach on Saturday 27 March needing just a point to clinch the OMHA Championship. They travelled in style on their own luxury bus while families and fans crammed into a school bus! With a player out suspended the coaches gave the two associates who had practised with the team all season, Danny Skinner and Rhys Vollmer, an opportunity to add some bench depth.
This was a must win for Wasaga Beach and they competed strongly from the face off. But the Kinucks were looking confident and sharp on the puck and, with two perfect penalty kills, blunted the Stars in a 0-0 first period. A tense second period saw both teams with chances but Kincardine went ahead four minutes from the end of the period when Kurt Dunsbier forced the puck home from Ethan Skinner and brother Danny in a goalmouth scramble. The Kinucks took control of the game in the first four minutes of the third. Some strong play around the net led to Ethan Skinner and Sam Culmer assisting Scott McFarlan to make it 2-0 on a power play. Then a minute and a half later Ethan Skinner hit the third unassisted for a 3-0 lead. Joey Doyle had a strong game in net but was unsighted for the Stars’ only goal of the game before Garrett McFadden fired an unassisted rocket shot for a 4-1 lead at mid-period. Twenty seconds from time Ethan Skinner, assisted by Kurt Dunsbier and Marshall Smith, knocked home an empty netter for the 5-1 win. In addition to the point scorers and goalies mentioned over the final two games, there were key contributions from defenceman Evan Brown and forward Ethan Long.
Excitement and emotion ran high for players, coaches and fans as the boys picked up the Championship trophy, medals and the trademark red OMHA Champions ball caps. There will be another banner to raise at the Davidson Centre and the opportunity to go to the OMHA Parade of Champions later in the Spring.
What a phenomenal season it has been - one that the boys will never forget. As well as the three Championships their overall record in the regular season of 44 wins, 6 defeats (only one since the Regional Silver Stick) and 2 ties says it all. Very special credit must go to Head Coach Brian Royle, Assistant Coach Curtis Chaput, Trainer Lou Battaino and Trainer Dane Dunlop for taking the individual strengths of each player and building them into a three time Champion team that just kept improving as the season went on. They won it all!
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