Nobles counting on experience at OFSAA
The Belle River Nobles are again looking to surprise the field. A year ago, the Nobles captured the OFSAA boys’ A/AA hockey title as the tournament’s No. 4 seed. The defending champs are the No. 8 seed at this year’s tournament, but fully believe they can still surprise.
“I always think we’re a medal threat and we go in there to win,” Nobles coach Dave Bracken said. Belle River will look to defend at the A/AA championship in Collingwood while the St. Anne Saints are the No. 7 seed at the OFSAA boys’ AAA championship in St. Catharines.
“The more I go to OFSAA, the more I realize that the seeding is such an inexact science,” Bracken said. “You have a bunch of conveners doing their best, but last year (the medal round) had the third, fourth, eighth and 10th seeds. All the teams have won their area and are very good teams.”
Belle River has eight players back from last year’s team with the experience of winning a title. “Last year, none of us knew what to expect at OFSAA,” veteran Belle River forward Eric Larue said. “Now that we have eight guys back, we know what we have in front of us and we can tell the others what to expect.”
Larue, along with captain Reiss Robinson, Meyerink and Colton Candido, played major roles in last year’s title run, while Keagan McGeen, Ryley Hammond, Conor Dembinski and goalie Kagan Doherty-Awram have become bigger factors this season. “I believe we can win a medal as the eighth seed, because the seedings don’t really mean anything,” Larue said. “In tournaments like this, upsets can be made.” Belle River opens play on Tuesday with an 8 a.m. game against No. 11 Toronto De La Salle. They will also face No. 2 Ottawa Immaculata later in the day. The club has a Wednesday date with No. 19 St. Catharines Saint Francis and a Thursday game with No. 14 Collingwood Jean Vanier, looking for a top two finish in pool play to advance to the quarter-finals. “At the beginning of the year, looking on paper, we didn’t have the greatest team, but as the year went on we became brothers and bonded and everyone played their role and we rolled through the playoffs,” said Robinson, who missed a month of the season with a shoulder injury. “Looking at all the teams we played, we thought we’d never have a chance. Now that we have experience, we know what to expect.”
The Saints are headed to the AAA championship for a third straight year, but have fallen short of reaching the quarter-finals the past two years. Last year, the club lost a tiebreaker that kept them from advancing.
“We’re getting closer and closer,” Saints coach Steve Burke said. “Hopefully, this year, we’ll keep progressing.”
Nine players return from the St. Anne team of a year ago that was led by goalie Romano Liburdi along with captain Christian Luciani. The Saints have depth down the middle with centres Ryan Gagnier, Zane Dalpe and Everett Parent, while St. Anne will count on John Ulicny and Adam Collins to provide offence.
“We have depth and I think that’s why we’ve been successful,” Burke said. “We don’t just rely on one line. We have three lines and players who can play defensively. All around, our goaltending is better.” St. Anne opens play on Wednesday against No. 1-ranked Brooklin at 8:15 a.m. and will also play pool games against No. 12 Kingston Holy Cross on Wednesday, and No. 14 Ottawa St. Mother Teresa, on Thursday as they look for a toptwo finish in pool play to advance to the quarter-finals.
“The nine guys there last year remember how it felt going to the dressing room after that third game,” Burke said of losing the tiebreaker. “I think they will teach other guys that you can’t take any days off. Our goal is to get to Friday, (which is the medal round).”