Midget Rep Advance to OMHA Finals, News, Midget Rep, U18, 2012-2013 (Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey)

It has been a season plagued with injuries for the Midget Rep Crusaders team but this hasn’t stalled their efforts to advance to the Midget Rep ‘C’ OMHA Finals. The quarter final playoffs saw the Crusaders face off against a very tough squad from Minto. Both teams could not capitalize on home ice but the Crusaders found the way with 3 wins on the road to take the series 3-2.

The semi-finals had the team facing off against Asphodel-Norwood.  A busy first weekend of March had the Crusaders playing 3 games in 3 days.  After a long bus ride on the Friday to Norwood the boys pulled off a gutsy overtime win (3-2) in game 1 to lead the series.  Home ice advantage in game 2 didn’t help the Crusaders as Norwood won (4-2) to tie the series.  Another bus ride to Norwood on Sunday proved successful for the Crusaders with yet another overtime win (2-1) on opposition ice.  Game 4 had the Brussels stands packed with fans to enjoy a win at home (4-1) to advance to the OMHA finals. 

The fans filled the stands for game one of the OMHA Finals in Blyth on Saturday March 16^th to see the Crusaders take on the Belmont ‘Rangers’.   A close checking game did not produce any score until late in the second period when Belmont found the back of the net to take the lead 1-0.  Less than a minute later the Crusaders tied the game 1-1 with a goal from Arden Coultes assisted by Jermery Ross and Wyatt Carey.   The crowd enjoyed end to end action during the third period and had the chance to pour on the cheers when Mitch Kellington from Adam Cousins and Carey scored to take the lead 2-1 with less than 6 minutes to go.  The Crusaders continued relentless forechecking and sound defence to keep Belmont off  the board.  With less than 2 minutes left Brock McLean scored an empty netter from Mike VanWyk to make it 3-1.  Excellent goaltending by Nathan Watson kept the score at 3-1 for the win.