Lakers end ALLIANCE season in disappointing loss

The ALLIANCE Championship hopes ended when the second-seeded Huron-Perth U16 AAA Lakers were knocked out by the third-seeded Brantford 99ers in Game 5 on March 15 at the Stratford Rotary Complex.

Entering Game 3 with the series tied at 1-1, the Lakers remained optimistic, believing the series was still achievable but needed to play with more consistency.

Team captain Sullivan Kipfer, defenceman Colten Van Geffen and head coach Jason Brooks shared their thoughts on the team’s chances.

“I think, to a man in that dressing room, we can all agree that we haven't played our best throughout both games. I just believe that we need to be better, and if we want to come out on top in the series, we all as a team need to improve,” Kipfer said.

“I thought we could play a lot better. I don't think it's our best hockey, but I think we'll get them later in the series,” Van Geffen said.

“This team has been a very good team all season. Seems like in the playoffs, we've maybe, I don't want to say taking a step back, that's not the right word, but we just haven't played to our capabilities. Our goal is to play our best,” Brooks said.

“If we lose playing our best as coaches, we'll sit back and tip our hats to Brantford and say, you know, good job by them, but it's hard. It's hard to watch. I mean, we're fortunate the series ended in a tie. We're at home with home ice, but you still have to win, and you've got to come ready Thursday for a war rampant. Come ready for war in the first two games, and we've got to be ready to read from the opening face-off.”

Game 3 took place at the Stratford Rotary Complex on March 13. Aiden Silos gave Brantford the lead on the powerplay in the second period with 5:38 left. Blake Moore, with help from Callum Brooks and Mathieu Lepan, scored for the Lakers at 5:50 into the third. The game remained tied through five minutes of overtime, ending in a 1-1 draw.

After the game, coach Brooks was impressed with how the team fought back after a tough second period.

“To our credit, I thought we had a really good start to the game. Branford started to take it to us. Unfortunate break for us on the penalty kill. But to the boys' credit, they battled back. We had chances in the third, we just came up a bit short to get the win over,” Brooks said.

“Time was back and forth, lots of opportunities for both teams. It's a heck of a series. It's really, really what it comes down to, the two teams that are battling and competing, and that's why you got a tight series.”

The series resumed in Brantford for Game 4 on March 14. If there was a key moment in the series, it was this game, when the 99ers delivered a strong statement, beating the Lakers 10-3 to lead the series 2-1-1.

Brantford took an early 2-0 lead in the first period, but Huron-Perth fought back to tie the game with two powerplay goals by Wyatt Finch and Evan Miller. The 99ers regained the lead with a late goal in the first, and their momentum continued in the second, scoring four goals to extend their advantage.

Lakers’ netminder Rylan Da Costa, who kept the team competitive throughout the series, struggled and was replaced by Tyler Wilkinson with over four minutes left in the second period. However, Wilkinson couldn’t halt the 99ers' offensive surge. Luke McLean scored just before the end of the second period, narrowing the gap to five, but the 99ers added two more goals late in the third.

Brooks commended Brantford on their performance and emphasized the team’s lack of response, which cost them the game early.

“I will give Brantford full credit for the way they're playing. They're making it very hard. They're just battling and competing extremely well. They finished on their chances today. They're a great hockey team, and it showed against us today,” Brooks said.

“We had zero response to them, other than the fact we got down to nothing, thought back to make it to two, which was great, but we couldn't sustain anything.”

With the ALLIANCE season on the line the following day, Brooks remained optimistic as the team looked to extend the series on home ice.

“The beauty thing of playoffs is whether you lose 10-3, like we did, or you lose 2-1 in overtime, the loss is a loss. Tomorrow's a new day. Yeah, we're in an elimination game, so the stakes are a little bit higher,” Brooks said.

“There's not as much room for air. We're going to have to do our jobs. We're going to have to play with heart and passion, compete, and we'll see what kind of character we have.”

In Game 5 on March 15 at the Rotary Complex, the Lakers aimed to rebound and keep their season alive.

In a recurring theme throughout the series, Brantford scored first as Carson Vukelich opened the scoring with 8:57 remaining in the first period. The score remained 1-0 until the 4:03 mark of the second period, when Callum Brooks capitalized on the rebound to notch his seventh goal of the postseason from Ethan Bridges and Declan McCotter.

After a tough penalty call on McCotter in the final minute of the second period, the 99ers capitalized early in the third with a powerplay goal from Roman Vanacker just 43 seconds into the frame. Gavin Martin then added an insurance goal for the 99ers at 4:33, but Finch’s shot from the point brought the Lakers within one goal with 1:55 remaining. Huron-Perth pressured hard for the late equalizer but fell short, ending their 2025-2026 ALLIANCE campaign with a 3-2 loss.

Following the game, Brooks felt proud of the team’s effort despite the result.

“The way we battled today, the way we competed today was obviously much better than yesterday, and we gave ourselves a chance because of it. Unfortunately, come up a little bit short, but get credit again to Brantford and their effort throughout the series. But today we played, we competed, and it just wasn't our day,” Brooks said.

With the ALLIANCE League season concluded, Brooks said the team plans to rest and refocus for its upcoming OHL Cup run.

“I think probably take some time here this week to decompress a bit and just re reevaluate where we're at. We'll have a week of preparation the following week for the OHL Cup. It's a great opportunity for the boys to finish the year at the premier event, and they earn the right to be there,” Brooks said.

“So we'll take our time preparing, and use some of this week to just reinvigorate ourselves and mentally and physically, kind of get back in a good spot, be ready for that event.”

The OHL Cup is set to occur at the Scotiabank Pond near Downsview Park in Toronto from March 30 to April 3, with the championship final held at Maple Leaf Gardens on April 4.

The schedule for the tournament will be announced closer to the date.

U16 AAA ALLIANCE Semifinal Schedule (Huron-Perth Lakers vs. Brantford 99ers)

Game 1 – Brantford 1 Huron-Perth 4

Game 2 – Huron-Perth 1 Brantford 4

Game 3 – Brantford 1 Huron-Perth 1

Game 4 – Huron-Perth 3 Brantford 10

Game 5 – Brantford 3 Huron-Perth 2

Brantford wins series 3-1-1