Atom Red Wings bow out, juvies move on in OMHAs

March 9, 2016 · 0 Comments

Chase Coughlan enters the offensive zone in the deciding game of the atom Red Wings’ OMHA semifinal series with the Brighton Braves.

By Jake Courtepatte
One Schomberg team remains in the hunt for the provincial championship, and for them it is familiar territory.
But while the juvenile Red Wings move on to the final series, it’s heartbreak for their atom counterparts who came just one goal shy of evening their semi-final match-up with the Brighton Braves.
With each team taking the first three games on home ice, the atom Wings found themselves in a do-or-die situation returning to Trisan Centre on Saturday down two games to one.
Chase Coughlin thought he scored the game’s opener only fifteen seconds in, but the goal was quickly called off due to a high stick. He would open the scoring, however, four minutes later on a wrist shot from the top of the circle.
Caleb Kokelj was solid in net for the opening period, but gave up Brighton’s first goal early in the second. Daniel Kloepfer and a Brighton forward traded one more goal in the period, taking a 2-2 score into the second intermission.
Brighton took the lead with five minutes to go, but Keaton Walsh scored a pretty goal on a solo effort to tie it just one minute later.
Schomberg pressed for the winning goal throughout the overtime period, but it was Brighton that scored on a rebound to take the game and the series.
The Juvenile Red Wings, meanwhile, have forged a much simpler path and one they have followed before. For the third year in a row, Schomberg’s top minor hockey team is heading to the OMHA finals.
They knocked off the South Bruce Blades in a three-game sweep completed on Friday, holding the Blades to only five goals throughout the series. The sweep brings the team’s current win streak to six games, dating back to the second game of the quarter-finals almost one month ago.
Schomberg will face the Cayuga Starts in the championship, with the series set to kick off next week. The juvies were 2014-15 champs after defeating the Beverly Bandits in five games, and bowed out to the Bandits in the championship series the year prior.
For schedules, visit www.schombergminorhockey.com.