Gemini boys’ hockey team happy to bring home WOSSAA A/AA bronze

The Tillsonburg Gemini boys hockey team brought home bronze medals from the Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association tournament Tuesday, March 10 at Strathroy. (Contributed Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

A young Tillsonburg Gemini boys hockey team took a serious run at the Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (WOSSAA) A/AA gold medal game.

And then they regrouped and brought home hardware in their final outing of the 2025/26 season.

“I was pleased with the way they rebounded in the bronze medal game and took it pretty handily,” said coach Derek Partlo of a 6-2 victory.

Tillsonburg opened its Tuesday, March 10 draw in Strathroy’s Gemini arena with a 3-0 semi-final loss against eventual champion Stratford St. Mikes. The game played out closer than the final score, the Gemini trailing 1-0 with 1:45 remaining, when a blocked shot at the point led to a St. Mike’s breakaway, and insurance goal. Partlo pulled goalie Will Court in favour of an extra attacker and Stratford added an empty-netter to round the three-goal final.

"We were pretty well there the whole game,” said Gemini Hunter Whittington. “Just couldn’t get the job done.”

Tillsonburg had its chances said Partlo, including a two-on-zero rush with a deke that went just wide, and a similar shot on a second breakaway. The team’s power play was also unable to connect on several man-advantage opportunities.

“That would be the only little disappointment,” said Partlo. “We weren’t better on special teams.”

His message prior to the bronze medal game was to take something away form WOSSAA, a tangible result to cap a quality season.

“The boys responded,” said the coach, citing a strong-skating effort against host Strathroy Holy Cross and passes that were ‘right on.’ The Gemini took the early lead, were up 4-1 and 5-1, closing out a four-goal 6-2 win after Holy Cross cut the gap to 5-2. Whittington and Keegan Diering each had two goals for Tillsonburg with Clarke Lessif and Lucas Thompson adding singles.

“It was not in doubt, we played very well.”

Tillsonburg had started the season with a younger team than usual said Partlo, pleased to see his Grade 9 skaters not only stay safe, but learn to play hockey well against older, larger opponents. The team finished 7-1 in regular Thames Valley Regional Athletics Southeast play, advancing to the league final against St. Thomas Parkside, which St. Mike’s beat 4-2 in the WOSSAA A/AA gold medal final game.

“We were happy with our play,” said Partlo. “We played hard against the gold medal team and to take away the bronze in convincing style was a great day for us.

“A real enjoyable season - it exceeded our expectations.”

“Better than getting fourth,” said Whittington, pleased to bring something home from the event.

“We just all played well, hard and got along well,” the Grade 11 skater summed up of the season. “It was a lot of fun - excited to play next year too.”

“It was a good year,” agreed Court. “Did a lot better than we expected, a lot of people expected.

“Felt good to get that bronze, not come home empty-handed.”

He cited team ‘resilience’ as a reason for its success, adding younger players will have a season of high school experience under their belt for 2026/27.

“Hopefully come with something a little more next year.”

“I think it’s something to build on for sure,” said Partlo, also wishing his three graduating Grade 12s the best in their future endeavours.

“It’s a good way to end it,” said Grade 12 captain Liam Nunn, who hopes to continue playing at the junior level next year. “I’m glad we showed we could play hockey and get a medal out of it.

“There’s not much else we could ask for.”

The Gemini roster was made up of players from a number of different teams, said Nunn.

“We just gelled in the room and ended up playing well together.

In closing, he expressed thanks on behalf of the team for the time the coaching staff has contributed, including through his four years with the program.

“We definitely appreciate it,” Nunn concluded.