Novice AA - OMHA Champions, News (Whitchurch Stouffville Minor Hockey Association)

The Stouffville Clippers Novice AA team wrapped up a great season on Sunday with a 1-0 nail biting victory in Game 5 of their OMHA Novice AA Championship final series over the Milton Winterhawks. Although the Clippers carried the play for most of Game 5, including an unsuccessful penalty shot, the third period started with the score still knotted at 0-0. The eventual winner came as the Clippers upped the pressure on the Winterhawks net.

With 6 minutes remaining in the 3^rd period, a Milton clearing attempt up the right boards was intercepted by Nathan S. who quickly fired a pass to Ethan H. in the high slot. Before Milton’s goalie could adjust Ethan fired a low wrist shot to the far corner for the winning goal, setting off a wild celebration amongst the Stouffville players and fans. The Clippers managed to hang on for the last 6 minutes to wrap up the win and the OMHA Championship, the Clippers first OMHA Championship at the AA level.

After the game, the Clippers were awarded their Championship trophy, gold medals and their most prized possessions….their bright red “OMHA Champions” hats.

Game 5’s win capped off an incredible series comeback for the Novice AA team. After losing the first two games of the series 5-3 and 1-0, the Clippers staved off elimination in Game 3 with a 4-2 victory on March 17. The Clippers dominated the Winterhawks in Game 4 on March 23 with a convincing 3-0 victory, which set up Game 5’s drama. Three times they faced elimination in the series and all three times the players responded, getting better and better as the series progressed.

The OMHA Championship represents the culmination of a season full of hardware for the Novice AA team, who had already won the Richmond Hill Early Bird and Georgina Silver Stick Regional Qualifying Tournaments, the York Simcoe regular season and were finalists in the Ottawa Tier 1 Novice tournament.

Well done Brad, Ethan, Christian, Liam, Jaiden, Connor, Beckett, Ryder, Ryan, Owen, Sean, Jacob, Noah, Nathan, Teo and Aiden! Wear your OMHA Champions hats with pride. You earned them!