Phoenix off to OFSAA
St. Francis going to provincials for the first time since 2006
Third time was the charm for both St. Francis Phoenix and Lakeshore Catholic Gators when they renewed regional rivalries in boys high school hockey Tuesday.
Both beat familiar foes in the semifinal round at the Ontario Secondary Schools Association (SOSSA) championships, only the Phoenix qualified to compete at provincials two weeks from now.
After getting the better of the St. Michael Mustangs for the first time this season, they clinched a berth in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) double A championships with a 3-1 victory over McKinnon Park from Caledonia in the SOSSA final.
Chase Berton, Brad DiTillio and Nick Young found the back of the net for St. Francis in what head coach Jim Whittard called “phenomenal” play on the part of the Phoenix.
“They worked hard together, they stayed together as a family and they won together,” he said from Gale Centre in Niagara
Falls, where the four-team qualifier was held.
St. Francis, which is going to OFSAA for the first time since 2006, outshot McKinnon Park 40-25.
Kessler Syke replied for the Blue Devils, who advanced to play the Phoenix by defeating the Greater Fort Erie Gryphons in the semifinal.
“They’re a good hockey team that does a lot of things right,” McKinnon Park head coach Mike Forster said of St. Francis.
Julian Bianchi scored two goals and Brad Ditillio and Nick Young one each leading the Phoenix past the Mustangs in the semifinals.
Connor Crouse and Adam Willick replied for St. Michael.
The OFSAA double A boys hockey championships are March 19-23 in Collingwood.
Warriors 2, Gators 0
At St. Catharines, Lakeshore Catholic failed to advance to the boys triple A OFSAA championships after beating the Denis Morris Reds for the first time this season.
Jonah Deveraux scored two goals, Matt King and Jacob Murdoch one each as the Gators edged the Reds 4-3 in semifinal action at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (SOSSA) triple A championships at Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre.
While Lakeshore went on to lose to Waterdown in the final, failing to advance to provincials as the area’s second entry didn’t diminish head coach Josh Oort’s praise for the team.
“We had a very good game this morning, where we beat a very good team in a one-goal game,” he said. “We were wondering if we would have enough in the tank to be able to compete at the same level.
“It turned out we didn’t.”
Oort, whose team came within one win of qualifying for the Ontario championships after finishing league play in sixth place with a 1-3-3 record, gave full credit to Waterdown for a strong performance.
“The better team won,” Oort said. “They were stronger on the puck and outplayed us for most of the
“We got outplayed by a better hockey team, but I’m proud of the guys,” he said. “We made positive steps in the right direction for our program.
“We look forward to building on it with our junior team.”
Liam Delmastro and Ryan Dunne scored for Waterdown, which blanked the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs in the other semifinal round Tuesday morning.
Hayen O’Dell earned the shutout for the Warriors.
Josh DiFranceso, Parker Hensbee and Cooper Lobsinger scored for Denis Morris in the loss to Lakeshore in the semifinals.
The Reds nonetheless advance to OFSAA as host team of the triple championships taking place March 20-23 at Seymour-Hannah Centre.
Denis Morris finished fourth at provincials year and its last medal was a gold in 2010.