Brant Battalion teams capture titles at local Fall Fling Tournament

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Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Hockey season is officially underway in Brant County, even if it still feels like summer outside.

The Brant County Minor Hockey Association welcomed 69 teams to the community for its annual Fall Fling Tournament, held Sept. 25 to 27 at four arenas across Brant County.

The busy three-day tournament featured 137 games across 11 divisions, with teams competing for A and B division championships.

Two Brant Battalion teams made the most of home ice, with the U12A and U13A squads both capturing tournament titles at the Brant Sports Complex.

The U12A Battalion entered the playoff round after posting two wins, one loss and one tie during round-robin play.

In the championship game, Brant faced the West Coast Whitecaps, a team it had lost to earlier in the tournament. The Battalion turned the tables when it mattered most, earning a 3-2 victory to claim the U12A title.

The U13A Battalion followed a similar path to the championship.

After finishing round-robin play with a 2-1 record, Brant advanced to face the Ausable Valley Coyotes in the semifinal. The Coyotes had gone undefeated in their round-robin pool, but the Battalion broke through with a convincing 7-2 victory to earn a spot in the final.

There, Brant faced the Midwest 49ers, another opponent that had handed the Battalion a loss during round-robin play.

The Battalion responded with a shutout, adding an empty-net goal in the final minutes to secure a 3-0 victory and the U13A championship.

Other A division champions were the Ausable Valley Coyotes in U11A, South Oxford Storm in U14A, Brantford 99ers in U15A, West Coast Whitecaps in U16A and Delhi-Norwich 59ers in U18A.

B division titles went to the Woodstock Jr. Navy Vets in U11B, Ausable Valley Coyotes in U13B, Norfolk Knights in U15B and Parry Sound Fuels Shamrocks in U18B. 

Tournament organizers thanked the many community sponsors whose support helped make the Fall Fling possible, including Lite 92.1, Hot Country 93.9, Waterford Appliances and More, Experience Travel, Legends Taphouse and Grill, Canadian Tire Paris, PepsiCo, Starbucks Paris, Twisted Treats, Community Hub Pharmacy, Northville Pharmacy and Wigglebum Dog Walking Co.