Applejacks crisp in Schmalz Cup final
How do you like them Wellesley Applejacks?
The hockey club made history this past weekend by edging the Clarington Eagles, 3-2, in the Provincial Junior Hockey League final to win its first Clarence Schmalz Cup.
“To do what we did is overwhelming, for sure,” said coach Ryan Gerber.
It has been a long haul for the ’Jacks, who started in junior-D and joined the 60-team junior-C loop about a decade back.
Since then, it has been a steady climb until the franchise found just the right mix — on and off the ice — to give the tiny community of about 3,200 its first sip from the Schmalz Cup.
“It’s awesome for the town,” said Gerber, who served as assistant bench boss for about six years before taking over two years ago. “The fans are pretty dedicated and follow us around everywhere. It’s pretty special when you have a following like that.”
Supporters were treated to a magical run that spanned 42 regularseason games and included playoff series wins over Hespeler, Norwich, New Hamburg and Glanbrook before emerging on top in the PJHL’s final four this past Sunday in Woodstock.
“It’s just battling,” said Gerber, of the secret to success. “You’re going every other night pretty much in the playoffs.”
But the Applejacks had bite. There was homegrown talent at the core in defenceman Austin Stemmler and forwards Curtis Butler and Connor Doerbecker.
Others came from Heidelberg, Elmira, St. Clements, New Hamburg and the “big” cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. “Our depth was big,” said Gerber, 40.
The team fought through key injuries, acquired some veterans for the stretch run and leaned on 16year-old Waterloo goalie Noah Bender, an Oshawa Generals 12thround draft pick, who was named the most valuable player in the playoffs.
It was a fierce final four. Wellesley went 2-1 in the roundrobin portion, which also included Clarington, the Stayner Siskins and the Lakeshore Canadiens.
That set up a semifinal match with the Canadiens.
The Applejacks trailed 2-1 in the final frame before Adam Hoff tied things up and Koby Seiling scored in overtime to send the defending PJHL champs back to Belle River.
“It sure was tense,” said Gerber. “Every inch counted.”
It was eerily close in the final but this time Wellesley had a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.
Doerbecker’s 11th tally of the postseason gave the ’Jacks some breathing room and the club hung on for a 3-2 victory.
Players peppered the ice when the game ended.
Later, they posed with the Schmalz Cup like it was the apple of their eye.
The celebrations lingered long after the match.
“Well, I know the coaches had a
pretty good time,” said Gerber. “We partied like we were the 20-yearolds.”
About half of the hockey club is expected to return next season.
Upper management, which includes Gerber’s brother Brock, will look to fill the holes left by departing players with some local lads.
“We wanted to go on a big run,” said Gerber.
“You say that every year, but it doesn’t always happen that way. This year it worked,” he added.
“We’ll try to do it again next season.”