The Foley Bus Lines Minor Bantams competed last weekend at the OMHA Championships, hosted by the Ajax Pickering Raiders. The Minor Bantam Red Devils finished the regular round undefeated and found themselves in the Gold Medal Game….
In game 1 on Friday Mar 23, the Red Devils faced the familiar York Simcoe Express. It was all Devils in the first period as Dalyn Wakely scored two goals to give the Devils a 2 to 0 lead. Assisting on one of the Wakely goals was Cooper Matthews. Each team skated to a scoreless 2nd and 3rd period, as the Devils took the opening game 2 to 0. Corbin Votary backstopped for the Devils and recorded the shut- out.
In Game 2 on Friday Mar 23, the Devils faced the Southern Tier Admirals. The Admirals got on the board first; early in the first period, but the Devils answered with a goal by Liam Filip. Assisting on the Filip goal was Trevor Hoskin. The Devils struck again in the 2nd period as Kellen Dostaller lit the lamp; unassisted to take the lead. Noah Richard and Cooper Matthews scored in the third period on assists by Owen Beck and Noah Richard. The Devils would take game 2 by a score of 4 to 1 as Brady Spry was solid in the Devils cage.
Game 3 on Saturday Mar 24, saw the Devils face the Oakville Rangers. The Rangers scored the opening goal late in the first period to take the early lead, but it was all Devils in the second and third periods. The Devils scored twice in the second, on goals by Owen Beck and Noah Richard. Picking up the 2nd period assists were; Cooper Matthews, Noah Richard, Dalyn Wakely and Owen Beck. The Devils found the back of the Rangers net twice in the third, as Corbin Roach and Owen Beck scored on feeds from Parker Stewart, Trevor Hoskin with two, and Liam Cassidy. Final score was 4 to 1 as Corbin Votary went the distance in the Devils cage.
In the final round robin game, the Devils faced the rival Ajax Pickering Raiders in Game 4. Liam Filip scored twice in the opening frame to give the Devils a 2 to 0 lead. Assisting on the 1st period goals were Donovan McCoy, Aaron Brown and Trevor Hoskin. The Devils lit the lamp once in the second as Connor Hunt scored on a pass from Donovan McCoy to give the Devils a 3 to 0 lead. The Raiders would score late in the third period, but it wasn’t enough, as the Devils hung on to take the game by a score of 3 to 1. Brady Spry was solid in the Devils net make several key saves.
With the 4 wins in the round robin, the Devils found themselves in 1st place and headed to the Gold Medal Game. On Sunday Mar 25, the Devils faced the York Simcoe Express for the OMHA Championship Game. The Devils got on the board first on a Goal from Cooper Matthews, assisted by Owen Beck and Aaron Brown. The Express evened things up just 20 seconds later. Owen Beck found the back of the Express net on a power play on assists from Noah Richard and Dalyn Wakely. A second power play goal by Dalyn Wakely gave the Devils a 3 to 1 lead in the first period. Assisting on the Wakely goal were; Owen Beck and Noah Richard. Each team skated to a scoreless 2nd period. The Express mounted a comeback in the third, scoring on a power play mid-way through the third to pull within 1. In the dying seconds the Express pulled their goalie and tied the game to send it into overtime. Midway through the OT period, a scramble in front of the Devil’s net resulted in the game winning Express goal. Corbin Votary went the distance in the Devils cage.
It was a great showing for the Foley Bus Lines Red Devils at the OMHA Championships as they competed and were well respected by the competition. The Devils bring home the silver medal, and the OMHA’s Dave Cook – Minor Bantam AAA Finalist Trophy. Congratulations to the Minor Bantam Red Devils on a fantastic regular season, overcoming a challenging playoff, and a great showing at the OMHA Championship!