99ers hockey team makes history
Brantford under-13 A team becomes first from city to win OHF championship
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The Brantford Minor Hockey Association’s under-13 A team made history last weekend.
Playing at the Ontario Hockey Federation championship tournament in Temiskaming Shores from April 19-21, the 99ers team of players born in 2011 captured gold at the provincial championship.
Since the inception of the OHF championship in 1989, records provided by the organization indicate Brantford teams have won three medals – bantam AA silver in 2013, atom A silver in 2006 and peewee A bronze in 2004 – but never a gold medal.
“What an accomplishment,” head coach Jordy McGowan said. “At the beginning of the season I could have never imagined we would be OHF champions.
“This group of kids are special. These kids have unbelievable chemistry on and off the ice. The team culture was fun to be part of.
“They are champions and they now get to carry this along for the rest of their lives.”
The team earned its spot at the OHF championship by winning the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario championship.
Brantford beat Woolwich Wildcats 6-3 in its first game at the OHF’s before shutting out Kapuskasing Icehawks 5-0 in its second game.
Following an 8-2 drubbing of Erindale Spitfires, the 99ers finished pool play undefeated when they tied Temiskaming Shores Puckhounds 2-2.
Facing Temiskaming in the semifinals, Brantford shut out its opponent 5-0 to make it to the gold-medal game against Woolwich.
The 99ers claimed the championship with a 5-3 victory.
“Everything fell into place,” McGowan said. “Every domino tilted at the right time.
”They peaked at the right time and had fun.”
McGowan has coached the team for three seasons and said the players and parents backed and supported the program.
He said the memory of the tournament will last a lifetime.
“The whole experience of the OHF’s was unbelievable,” said McGowan.
“From the banquet to the games to the environment to the music to the player of the games to the championship presentation to the bus ride in and the bus ride out, that made the weekend more special.
“Winning it was the cherry on top.”
With a team motto of effort, attitude and skill, along with Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ as their team song, McGowan couldn’t be prouder.
“(The) bottom line is these kids wanted it, worked for it and were rewarded with the OHF championship and being top team in Ontario,” he said.
“As a coach what more could (you) want.”
Members of the team include Holden McClelland, Hudson Delaney, Cole Maxwell, Fletcher McGowan, Nolan Davies, Will Tozer, Cohen Diakun, Zack Barton, Sebastian Forde, Easton Harrison, Jake Robinson, William England, Jake Davies, Kaiden Pitts, Max Sinden, Noah Belanger, Caleb Wright, assistant coach Grant Davies, trainer Bill Tozer and goalie coach Ryan Delaney.
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