On the same night as the # 1 top-seeded Duke Blue Devils were ousted from the NCAA Div 1 Basketball Tournament of Champions, the 1st place Wild Minor Bantams fell victim to the Upper Canada Cyclones in the OEMHL-AAA Minor Bantam AAA Playoff Finals.
The Wild faced a do or die situation entering game # 4, being played in Cardinal ON, as they trailed the Cyclones 3-0 in games. The Wild, as they did in game #3, dominated play throughout the entire game by outshooting their opponents 2-1; however, the Hockey Gods were just not on their side for this series.
Leading the game 2-1, with less than a minute to play, the Wild seemed destined to take the series to game # 5 as they were on the ensuing power play. Unfortunately, a neutral zone turn-over resulted in a Cyclones 2 on 1 attack and sniper, Shane Wosley, fired the puck into the top corner over the shoulder of the Wild’s net minder. The goal came with only 20 seconds remaining in the game and the arena erupted with both cheers and sighs of disbelief. It was déjà-vu of game # 3 all over again where the Cyclones scored a similar goal with just over a 1 minute left to play.
“We could not ask the players to play with any more effort, intensity and determination than what they demonstrated during this series”, said the Wild’s head coach Steve Malette.
“Play-off hockey is cruel and when you face a hot goalie, it makes all the difference in winning vs losing. The difference in the series was the stellar play of Cyclones’ goalie, Aidan Ethier, as he stood on his head the entire series”, Malette said.
Prior to entering the Finals against the Cyclones, the provincially 4th ranked Wild posted an overall amazing record of 46-8-7, including a 22-game season non-losing streak.
“The Hockey Gods were not on our side this series and unfortunately ending the season by giving up a goal with 20- secs left is an abrupt way to lose; however, it cannot take away from the storybook season that this team has had. The entire coaching staff and the Wild organization is proud of their accomplishments”, coach Malette concluded.
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