The U15 Talbot Trail Blazers are OMHA champions after a whirlwind OMHA weekend in Whitby April 4-6, capped by an exciting 5-4 double overtime victory in the finals.
On Friday morning the Blazers faced off against the Collingwood Jr. Blues and came out with a vengeance, scoring early and often en route to a 9-3 win.
Nash Fuerth led the attack scoring four goals, while Lucas O’Neil potted two. Brayden Foster, Isaiah Georges and AJ Youssef each added one to round out the scoring.
Friday afternoon saw the Burlington Eagles as the Blazers’ next opponent. While it was not the best game for Talbot Trail, another win was added to their record as they skated away with a 3-2 win.
Austin Goudie opened the scoring and notched the game winner with 5:00 to play, while Youssef added a goal in between.
On Saturday, the Blazers found themselves up against the Clarington Toros and controlled the play most of the game, adding a third win to their record in round robin pool play, winning 4-1.
Lucas O’Neil popped in two goals and Nathan Mariuz and Nolan Jones with an empty netter sealed the deal.
This set up an early Sunday morning semi-final with the #1 ranked team in the province, the Blazers, against the #2 ranked team, the St. Thomas Stars.
The first period saw no scoring as each team refused to make the mistake that would give the other the advantage.
But with 9:01 to play in the second period, while shorthanded, AJ Youssef touched the puck ahead of the faceoff and went cross-crease to Austin Goudie, who tapped it into the open cage.
Next, with Talbot on the power play, Fuerth sent a pass across to O’Neil at the dot and walked in and rifled his snapshot bar down to increase the lead.
Then, with just under three to play, Goudie found the puck along the wall, stepped out with one move around the D, and fired his shot low blocker.
Kevin Ondic, between the pipes, earned the shutout while aiding his team to the 3-0 victory.
Late Sunday afternoon was the setting for the final against a familiar foe, the Centre Wellington Fusion. It was a very fast-paced, back and forth game with the Fusion desperately trying to take an early lead. With 1:26 to go in the first, Youssef slid the puck to Goudie just outside the line, and he took things into his own hands, banging in his own rebound to take the lead.
A little over six minutes into the second, Goudie corralled the puck behind the net and fed Fuerth in the slot, who ripped his shot over the shoulder of the goaltender.
Moments later, Larry Jeffrey tied up his man on the draw and O’Neil swooped in, sending the puck back to Nolan Jones at the point, and fired his hard snapper in through traffic.
But Centre Wellington was not going to roll over and concede defeat. The Fusion scored 20 seconds later and then midway through the period, on the power play, scored again.
Three minutes later, while on their own power play, Youssef went high slot to Jeffrey, who tipped it to O’Neil on the dot, and he ripped his slapper five-hole.
The Fusion refused to go away, scoring with 14 seconds left in the period.
For most of the third period the Blazers held off a desperate team, but with 3:58 to play Wellington scored, resulting in a 4-4 tie.
The first overtime was fast and furious with both sides trying to score. Talbot was on their heels for a few minutes, but Ondic in net and sheer determination held them in.
After a resurfacing, the Blazers stepped onto a clean sheet of ice a different and more confident team. For five minutes they controlled the play and had numerous scoring chances, then with 5:37 left to play in the second overtime period, Max Pyne kept the puck in at the line and rifled his shot on net. Austin Goudie found the rebound and shot it past the outstretched goalie for the 5-4 win.
Ondic in net for the victory was then swarmed by his teammates in celebration.
Talbot Trail is now invited to compete in Collingwood for the OHF Championship tournament as the OMHA Champion representative.
