U12AA King Rebellion captures York-Simcoe M.H.L. Championship with a pair of Final Four shutouts

By Jim Stewart

King's 12AA rep team continued its winning ways on the weekend. The Rebellion ran the table in a convincing manner at the York-Simcoe Minor Hockey League Final Four playoff tournament by shutting out both their opponents.
A 7-0 win over Barrie in the semi-final on Saturday secured a berth in the YSMHL final. In the championship game on Sunday afternoon, the Rebellion used back-to-back goals in the second period and a stifling defence to earn a 2-0 win over Richmond Hill and hang a York-Simcoe championship banner at the Nobleton Arena.
In the championship final on Sunday afternoon, King and Richmond Hill battled to a scoreless tie after the first period. The Rebellion struck for quick goals in the second period. Adrian Sorgini gave King a 1-0 lead at 11:45 of the middle frame on an assist from Captain Luca Sebastiano. The Rebellion bumped their lead to 2-0 just 26 seconds later when Carter Dunlop finished off Alexander Artenosi's pass. The Rebellion and Stars engaged in a war of attrition for the balance of the contest as King took their 2-0 margin into what turned out to be a scoreless third period.
The low-scoring final was in sharp contrast to the offensive fireworks detonated by the Rebellion in the semi-final versus Barrie on Saturday afternoon. After a scoreless first period, King forward Peter Cortese got the Rebellion on the scoreboard at 8:04 on assists from Massimo Cesana and Darcy Wilson. The Rebellion struck again just 38 seconds later when Landon Taylor gave his team a 2-0 lead on Wilson's second assist of the game. Alexander Artenosi also earned an assist on Taylor's marker. Jonathan Racco's unassisted goal at 2:50 gave his team a 3-0 lead heading into the third period.
The Rebellion exploded for four goals in the final frame to quell any comeback plans by Barrie. Artenosi was in the offensive mix again when he scored less than three minutes into the third on assists from Racco and Carter Dunlop to bump King's lead to 4-0. The Rebellion finished the game with an offensive flourish: three goals in the final four minutes of play. Cortese's second goal of the game – this time unassisted – at 3:55 increased Barrie's deficit to 5 goals. With less than 3 minutes remaining, Defenceman Christian Viola made it 6-0 for King with helpers from Taylor and Ryon Mottaghi. Rebellion Assistant Captain Artenosi closed the scoring at 1:42 with his second goal of the game, on an assist from Christian Mazzaferro, to secure his team's margin of victory and a trip to the YSMHL championship.
The Rebellion's balanced offensive attack, commitment to steel door defence, and effective goaltending by Nicolas Iaboni and Julian Daher have been three ingredients in a terrific recipe for playoff success. Iaboni and Daher's recent shutout totals are reminiscent of Tony Esposito's legendary numbers in his rookie season with the Chicago Blackhawks. All allusions aside, Coach Cortese's systems are firing on all cylinders as his Rebellion squad advances to the provincial OMHA playoff championship tournament.