SportsSpeaker WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019 Bantam OHF Eberts unable Nathan Stewart of Ebert Welding looks for a chance against Stratford netminder Russel Sebben after Issac Deline got to hold back knocked to the ice in period two of the Puckhounds’ opening game of the OHF championship Friday at The Shep. Strat- ford won this game 8-4 and went on to win the Bantam title Sunday afternoon 5-1 against St. Thomas. (Sta photo by southern squads Steven Larocque) Steven Larocque The team won just one of their four round robin tam BB League and the Northern Ontario Hockey Asso- Speaker Editor games in the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) Bantam ciation championships this season. The team was con- A Championship hosted April 12-14 at the Don Shep- dent they could get to a seminal on Sunday where TEMISKAMING SHORES – The Ebert Welding herdson Memorial Arena. anything could happen. Bantams put on a well-received OHF Champi- That record kept them out of Sunday’s playos, “even But the visitors had other ideas. onship on the weekend, but on the ice things though we worked hard and competed to the best of “I found the biggest dierence with the Southern didn’t turn out as planned. our capabilities in that moment,” he said in an email in- teams was their overall physicality and aggressiveness “Well, the tournament didn’t quite go as we terview. on the puck,” said Lajoie. were hoping,” said coach Don Lajoie. Eberts won the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Hyundai Ban- See “Bantam” on 2b Lions can’t shake o the rust at OHF tourney Steven Larocque “The dierence at the Stratford Warriors, great year” in 2018-19 by winning Speaker Editor the OHF was that then blanked 3-0 by three tournaments including the we didn’t play for Centre Wellington NOHA. WOOLWICH – The New Liskeard Lions a couple of weeks Fusion. “We couldn’t have asked for a better weren’t the well-oiled machine that prior and it hurt Saturday it was an- year,” he said. won their NOHA when they were in during the rst other close game, They had 14 wins and 16 losses in Woolwich last weekend. couple of games,” losing 3-2 to Lorne their league where the highlight “was The team headed south for the said New Liskeard Park Clarkson, then beating Amos and Lasarre, the top Midget A Ontario Hockey Federation head coach Dom Fl- dropped a 4-1 decision that night to two teams in the league giving us a (OHF) Championship April 12-14. eury. the host Elmira Jr. Sugar Kings. boost of condence going into the It had been almost three weeks “We were a little o, turning over “It was a disappointing nish to the NOHA.” since they last played an Abitibi-Té- pucks, not being hard on pucks and year, we were hoping going into the “At the end of the day it’s just a game, miscamingue Hyundai Midget BB our work ethic just wasn’t there the OHFs of making it to Sunday but that we couldn’t have asked for a better League game. rst couple of games,” he said in an didn’t happen,” said Fleury. bunch of kids, they made it easy for us And it was March 16 in Kapuskasing email interview. The Fusion beat the Kings 4-3 in the to come to the rink everyday, they had when they won the Northern Ontario The Lions were winless, but compet- gold medal game. a great work ethic and their commit- Hockey Association (NOHA) Midget A itive, in their four round robin games. PAST AND FUTURE ment was awesome,” noted Fleury. Tournament of Champions. On Friday they were edged 3-2 by The coach said the Lions “had a See “Lions” on 7b Wilson Atoms reach OHF semis in Kap Steven Larocque hitting a few crossbars and had unlucky bounces. We Speaker Editor just couldn’t get any breaks,” he said. “Waterloo was a well-coached team and very KAPUSKASING – Three wins and a loss had the Wilson deserving on winning the gold medal,” said Rivard. Chevrolet Buick GMC Atom Puckhounds in good The Wolves edged Owen Sound 2-1 in the nal. shape at the provincial championship. AWARDS Playing in Kapuskasing April 12-14 at the Ontario “We had a tough start down 3-0 after the rst The weekend wasn’t without it’s personal rewards Hockey Federation (OHF) Atom A Championship, period. Our kids showed a lot of character coming for a couple of Wilson players. the Puckhounds needed a win Sunday morning to back but we fell short with a 4-3 loss.” “I would like to congratulate Liam Major on winning advance to the gold medal game. In game one Friday Wilsons beat the host the Top Defenceman of the Tournament award on But the Waterloo Wolves continued to have their the weekend,” said the coach, “also congratulations Kapuskasing Icehawks 8-2. number and blanked Wilsons 5-0 en route to the to Logan Rivard on receiving the Most Valuable gold medal Sunday afternoon. Saturday the Puckhounds doubled-up on the Player of the Tournament this past weekend.” “Our team played very well throughout the Toronto Eagles 4-2 and then did the same to the He noted defencemen Jake Roy, Ethan Ethier, weekend. All the kids played a huge role in nishing Owen Sound Jr. Attack. Major and Samuel Brownlee “all had an amazing second in the round robin with a 3-1 record,” said “We had a tough start in the rst period (of the weekend along with goaltenders Kael Rivard and coach Pierre Rivard. seminal),” said Rivard. Keyan Gauthier. They were a big part of our team in He said it was “a strong Waterloo team” ranked “They were a strong, fast, physical team and led being so successful down the stretch and should be number one in Atom A in Ontario that handed them 2-0 after the rst. Our boys came out strong in the extremely proud of themselves.” their only loss in the opening round, 4-3 in game two. second period as we put lots of pressure on them, See “Wilson Atoms” on 2b Page 2b TEMISKAMING SPEAKER Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Bantam OHF Eberts unable READY to hold back southern squads Continued from 1B “We were expecting it but not to that extent as it forced our SET defence to react quicker and make mistakes and it didn’t allow our forwards the time and space we were accustomed to in league play. “Our team was very anxious and nervous in front of the big crowds and we certainly didn’t play to our full potential. “Expectations were high and as the coach I take the full re- sponsibility for the outcome of the weekend.” SHOOT!TEMISKAMING OFF ICE The tournament began Thursday night with a banquet at Riv- DISTRICT erside Place for all ve teams. “Overall the event was a success as we had a great banquet Thursday night with guest speaker John Zubyck and the atten- dance was phenomenal all weekend,” said Lajoie. • Marten River • Temagami • • Latchford • Cobalt • Coleman • • Temiskaming Shores • • Haileybury • New Liskeard • “The organizing committee received positive comments from • Dymond • Casey • ornloe • • Earlton • Englehart • • Charlton & Dack • Elk Lake • • Matachewan • Gowganda • • Kirkland Lake • North Bay • all the teams and members of the community who came out to • Notre-Dame-du-Nord • support it.” OUR He thanked the team’s sponsor, Ebert Welding, “which has been supporting minor hockey for over 35 years.” ON ICE WARRIORS 8 EBERTS 4 Friday afternoon’s opening game for Eberts was against the Stratford Warriors. PHOTO CONTEST “We came out nervous and fell behind early 3-0 before making it a closer game in the second period.” RETURNS Scoring for the Puckhounds were Nick Caron, Matthew Hill, Nicolas Milhomme and Alex McDonald. SEND US YOUR COLTS 5 EBERTS 2 PHOTOS Friday night after the opening ceremonies the Barrie Jr. Colts provided the opposition. OF OUR AREA “(They) played a very aggressive forechecking game which Be the next featured gave us troubles in our own zone,” said Lajoie. Photographer on the cover McDonald had the only two markers for the Hounds. STARS 7 EBERTS 4 or throughout our Saturday afternoon was a “tough 7-4 loss to the St. Thomas Jr. annual edition of the Stars. This was, I think, our best e ort and we could not get any Visitor’s Guide, or puck luck as every time we managed to score St. Thomas found a way to sneak in the next goal taking away the momentum we throughout the Speaker’s had just gained.” 2019 calendar Scoring for Eberts were Nolan Rosko-Fong, Nathan Stewart, Francis Charland and Hill. EBERTS 4 EXPRESS 0 THIS YEAR’S The last game was against NOHA rivals Hearst Friday night. “The team came out wanting to end their season with a win.” CHALLENGE: Mathieu Geo roy earned the shutout for Eberts. William Tysick, Caron, McDonald and Adam Shillinglaw with FRIENDS & FAMILY the team’s nal goal of the season rounded out the scoring. Stratford downed St. Thomas 5-1 in the gold medal game. We still want the photos to showcase our Wilson Atoms beautiful northern community, but let’s display the reach OHF landscape while ONLY HIGH including some semis in Kap RESOLUTION PHOTOS local faces! Continued from 1B ACCEPTED (300ppi) Forwards Maverick Hill, Tristan Roy, Kian Wilson, Jesse Penfold, IMPORTANT: All photo files Max Stinkowji, Frank Popkie, Robert Burnett, Layne Morlock and MUST be identified with your Logan Rivard “all played their hearts out and left everything on the ice all season,” he added.