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Last Tuesday March 12^th the Centennials traveled to Lambeth for game four of the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League championship finals. The Cens came to town with a 3-0 series lead and the O.H.A. cup was in the building.

Two years ago the Centennials made it to the finals and were eliminated by the Thamesford Trojans in four games. That year they were dubbed “A Cinderella team” as it was the first time in the organizations 28 year history they had made it past the second round. This season the Cens were picked by point streak (the O.H.A. web site) to be in the finals but no one predicted the final outcome.

Facing elimination the Lancers played for the first time in the series with some desperation. Midway through the first Cens goalie Lee Doherty was forced to make a huge toe save to thwart a Lancer’s break away. Ayr opened the scoring with 3:14 left in the first when McKnight fed it to Mutton in the corner. Mutts then found Spencer Sweazy alone at the top of the crease and Sweazy put the Cens on the board.

The Cens stretched the lead to two with a power play goal 1:42 into the second. Jordan Pettitt one timed an Alex Richard pass and Declan Kaster was at the top of the blue ice to bang in the rebound. Lambeth closed the second period scoring with a power play goal off a goal mouth scramble with 6:07 remaining.

Once again the Cens gained a two goal spread scoring 1:20 into the third. Fisher took a Nick Hirst pass across the Lancers line on the right side and dropped it to a trailing Gibson at the top of the circle. Gibson’s wrister was in the top corner on the far side before the Lambeth keeper saw it coming. Out shot 32-20 in the first two frames Lambeth turned it up and midway through the period scored two goals in 19 seconds to tie the game with 9:19 remaining. Just when it looked as if they were headed for their fourth O.T. of this seasons play offs Ayr silenced the Lambeth faithful. Jordan Eby carried the puck down the left wing side and cut through the slot from the top of the left circle to the bottom of the right. As the defenders converged on Eby he back handed a pass back into the slot to Jordan Pettitt who had jumped up into the play. A bullet from between the dots ended the game and earned the Ayr Centennials the League championship making the Cens thirtieth season one to remember.

So in his fourth and final year as a Centennial, Captain Alex Richard hoisted the OHA cup high above his head and a dream that started nine years before he was born was realized.

For the past six years I have been asking the Cens G.M. Larry Brown for a quote for the newspaper write ups. Every time he smiles and says "ask the coaches". Last night on the way home from the game I got a call from Florida. It was Larry with the quote he had been waiting for the right time to give me.
"I am so proud of the players, the coaching staff and of the entire organization for winning the S.O.J.H.L Championship". Thanks Larry.

To win a championship it takes more than talent (just ask the New York Rangers). It takes a special group of individuals that blend to form a true team. When the Cens won the McConnell conference in 2011 it was mentioned that those guys really went to war for each other. Steve Nue, that year’s captain replied “Not just each other. For everyone that was a part of that family”

The Centennials “family” is on the trip of a life time. As if the winning of the S.O.J.H.L in its final season wasn’t enough this year the Cens get to compete for the ultimate Junior “C” trophy, the Schmalz Cup.

The Centennials are in the quarter finals against the Essex 73’s, winners of the Great Lakes league. There were complaints from some of the Great Lakes teams that if the S.O.J.H.L. champs were included they would have to play three rounds to get to the semi-finals. The Cens have eliminated Norfolk, Tavistock, Hagersville and Lambeth (20 games) to get a shot at the 73’s.

Game one went last Saturday at the N.D.C.C. before over 1000 fans. The atmosphere was electric, as it gets at this stage of the play offs and not having seen the Essex team before it was hard to say how the Cens would stack up. Essex has won the Schmalz cup six times in twelve trips to the finals.

In the opening minutes the Cens were unable to capitalize on an early penalty but came close with some glorious chances. At the other end Lee Doherty came up big on a number of occasions to keep the 73’s off the board  Penalty trouble for the Cens cost them midway through the period. A 5 on 3 for Essex resulted in a power play goal at 9:43.

Essex took a two goal lead 8:08 into the second with another P.P. goal. The Centennials got on the board at the 13:00 mark of the second when Mike McKnight carried over the right side. Taking a hit to make the play Knighter dished it off to Andrew Richard who was trailing at full speed. Andrew carried behind the net and wrapped it in the far side. This brought the Ayr fans to their feet and the building was buzzing. Essex put a damper on things scoring a late P.P. goal with 47 second left on the clock.

There were no 5 on 5 goals scored and the Cens did manages a one shot edge in the third but maybe the sticks were being squeezed just a bit. Essex added an empty netter to make the final 4-1 but the score wasn’t really indicative of the balance of play.

The Centennials can play with these guys and any nerves or doubts should be gone when they travel to Essex on Tuesday March19th for game 2. Game 3 in back at home Thursday at 7:30 Friday in Essex and game 5 Sunday in Ayr.

This group of players has done our community proud. Come on out and show your support. With 30 years of history we should be able to half fill the place with alumni.