Title hat trick for Atom AA Petes
The Peterborough FCI Windows Atom AA Petes made it an OMHA hat trick on Saturday night.
The team captured its third straight Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship by sweeping the Orangeville Flyers in three games.
They beat the Flyers 9-2 at the Memorial Centre, breaking open a 3-2 game with six unanswered goals.
For the first time, these boys will play beyond the OMHA final as they’ve earned a berth in the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) Championship Tournament April 13-15 in North Bay.
The team has lost just four of 74 regular season, playoff and tournament games this season.
“It’s awesome to have everyone come together three years in a row to win,” said Will McFadden, who scored a goal. “We have strong forwards, defence and goalies so if we all work hard we will have a good game.”
McFadden looks forward to his first OHF tournament.
“I’m excited because we get to play teams we haven’t played, yet,” he said. “I think we’re going to do pretty well.”
Teammate Nathan McHattie said it’s “pretty special” to win three titles in a row.
“It’s special being here with my teammates, my brothers, it’s a great feeling,” said McHattie.
“We work really hard and have fun doing it, too.”
Petes coach Mike Farrugia said he’s been blessed to coach this group.
“We just have a great group of kids that just love to play the game and love to have fun,” said Farrugia. “I couldn’t feel more privileged as a coach to have these kids. They listen well and play hard for each other.”
Farrugia said it gets harder as years go by and players grow and develop to keep winning.
“I’m surprised how dominant we continued to be,” said Farrugia. “I just find these kids are athletes. They have another gear. Today, (Orangeville) kept clawing back and getting momentum and there was no way I thought the game would turn out to be that lopsided in the end.”
This will be Farrugia’s last run with most of these boys as he’s been selected to coach AAA hockey in the Central Ontario Wolves system next year.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Farrugia. “I’ve coached for a long time and I feel like it’s a good test for me.”
Farrugia said they made it a goal at the start of the season to make it to the OHF tournament.
“It gives them a chance to go up against the best teams in Ontario now,” he said. “We expect the competition to take it up a notch. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Cohen Bidgood had a pair of goals including the winner for the Petes.
Dawson Corfe also scored twice with singles to Drew Calderwood, Nole Faulkner, Michael Hancock, Reed Chamberlain and McFadden. Scoring for Orangeville were Guerin Jennings and Dylan Sanderson.