Wingham, BCH teams vie for OMHA gold - March 28, 2019
BY DENNY SCOTT
While most of the Huron Heat and Blyth Brussels Crusader teams have finished up their seasons, some of the former persist on while other Huron County teams push on through playoffs.
WINGHAM
Two Wingham minor hockey squads entered the weekend in contention for Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) glory with the Atom Rep and Atom AE squads both making their respective bracket finals.
The Atom AE squad, in the Atom AE4 division, dropped two games against the Ilderton Jets: a 3-0 home loss on March 19 and a 4-3 road loss on March 23. The squad faced elimination on Monday night, but a score was unavailable at press time.
The Atom Rep squad, in the Atom C division, faced a rough start to their best-of-five series against the East Lambton Eagles, dropping a 3-0 loss on the road. The Eagles then bested Wingham 4-1 in Wingham on March 23 and, on March 24, the Eagles edged out Wingham 2-1, claiming the championship.
The Wingham Midget Girls team starts its year-end tournament this weekend with games against Grey Highlands, Central Perth and South Bruce. Next weekend, the squad is scheduled to compete in a provincial tournament as well.
For more information, visit winghamminorhockey.com
BCH ICE DOGS
The BCH Ice Dogs PeeWee AE squad is locked in a 1-1-1 series tie against the Durham Crusaders for the OMHA PeeWee AE4-5 championship.
Earlier this month, the two squads tied 3-3, each earning a point in the six-point, best-of-five series. Over the weekend, BCH posted a 3-0 win against Durham in Hensall, then were downed 4-1 by the Crusaders on March 24.
The battle continues next weekend with the Ice Dogs on the road on March 29 and 30, and, if necessary, game five is scheduled for March 31 at 1:30 p.m. in Hensall.
The PeeWee Local League Ice Dogs also continued their playoff run with games two and three in a three-game series against the Hanover Falcons. On Sunday, the Ice Dogs took the lead in the series with a 2-1 win after tying the Falcons 3-3 on March 22. Game three was set March 25, but a score was unavailable at press time.
The Bantam Rep squad entered a three-game series this week against the Saugeen Shores Storm. Game one was set for March 26, game two on March 27 and scores were unavailable as of press time.
The third game, if necessary, is scheduled for March 28 in Clinton with the puck drop set for 7:30 p.m.
The Bantam Local League Ice Dogs faced off against the Saugeen Shores Storm 2 in game two of a three-game series on March 27, a final score was unavailable at press time.
The Ice Dogs had set the pace for the series, claiming a 4-3 victory on March 22. Game three, if necessary, is set for March 30 in Saugeen Shores.
The Midget Rep Ice Dogs are fighting back against the Saugeen Shores Storm after losing game one of a three-game series against the storm 4-1 over the weekend.
The team next takes to the ice in Clinton on March 29 with a puck drop at 6:30 p.m. Game three, if necessary, is set for March 30 in Saugeen Shores.
For more information, visit bchminorhockey.ca.
HURON HEAT
The Huron Heat Atom A squad bounced back from a 1-0 series deficit to win the Lower Lakes Female Hockey League (LLFHL) round two playoffs 2-0.
On March 23, at the Seaforth and District Community Centre Arena, the Heat topped the Wildcats in Seaforth 1-0, then repeated the feat with the same score on March 24, again in Seaforth.
The Heat Atom HL squad was edged out of the three-game Western Ontario Girls Hockey League (WOGHL) final against the West Oxford Inferno HL team. The Inferno handed the Heat a 3-1 loss in Seaforth on March 23 and a 4-1 loss on March 24 in Thamesford.
After tying its first game against the Chatham Outlaws in round three LLFHL playoffs, the PeeWee B Heat dropped two to Chatham. On March 23, on the road, the Heat was beaten by a score of 2-1 and then, at home in Seaforth on March 24, the squad was dealt a 2-0 loss.
The PeeWee C Heat is tied 1-1 in the WOGHL Finals against the North Middlesex Jr. Stars C team. The Heat were defeated at home on March 23 1-0, but then posted a 1-0 win on the road in North Middlesex. The final will be determined in game three on March 30 at the Central Huron Community Complex. The puck drops at 2:30 p.m.
The Bantam C squad is in a similar situation, being tied 1-1 with the Kent County Fillies for the WOGHL finals after two games over the weekend.
On March 23, the squad was bested by the Fillies 4-1 in Seaforth. The Heat then posted a 3-0 win in Bothwell on March 24. The final is set for March 31 at 6:30 p.m. in Blenheim.
The Midget BB Heat emerged victorious from its LLFHL round three series against the Lakeshore Lighting.
After taking an early 1-0 lead in the series, the Lightning tied the Heat 3-3 on March 23. On March 24, the Heat posted a 2-0 win over the Lightning, claiming the best-of-three series.
For more information, follow the Heat at huronheat.com.