U11 LL Boys Red win LMLL division championship

The Tremblett’s Independent Grocer U11 LL Boys Red St. Marys Rock won the ‘D’ Division Lambton-Middlesex Local League Championship March 25. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Jayln Arn and Bryson Stacey. In the second row, from left, are Cameron Foley, Bryson Nairn and Elliot Cociu. In the third row, from left, are Mac McCarthy, Elijah Campbell, Caxton Stewart Noeske, Ethan Cubberly, Theo Shute, Jase Hazen, Jack McArthur, Owen Barker, James Hammond, Bryson Nairn, Brayden Rumble and Andrew Garvie. In the fourth row, from left, are Mark McArthur, John Cubberly, Dale Leonhardt and Jeff Nairn. Not pictured was Cale Stacey.

By Spencer Seymour

The Tremblett’s Independent Grocer U11 LL Boys Red St. Marys Rock captured the D Division Lambton-Middlesex Local League (LMLL) Championship on March 25.

Head coach Dale Leonhardt credited his squad for their strong adherence to the team’s philosophy.

“The boys really bought into our team identity, outworking every opponent and relying on effort as our core principle,” Leonhardt said. “Once we realized that our success was directly tied to how hard we worked, the results started to come. The combination of our defence, offence and goaltending all came together as a team that helped us with the D division title.”

According to Leonhardt, it took some time for the group to hit their stride, but once they did, they were an incredibly well-rounded team.

“At the start of the year, we had flashes of success but weren’t very consistent,” Leonhardt said. “The team was still figuring out positioning, line combinations and overall chemistry. After Christmas, everything started to click and they began to trust each other and play as a unit. In the playoffs, that growth really showed. We had solid goaltending, our defencemen moved the puck extremely well and we were getting offensive production from all three lines.”

Leonhardt added the galvanizing point of the year came just before the holiday break in December.

“I think back to the Regional Silver Stick tournament in Collingwood before Christmas; that was when the boys started to come together, both on and off the ice. The team bonding during that trip really carried over into our play. Then, during the playoffs, we had some strong-played games. Earlier in the season, we might have folded in those situations, but later on, they believed they could claw back and they did. That belief grew every round-robin game as their confidence and chemistry built.”

St. Marys defeated the South Huron Sabres to win the division title, with the championship-winning game going in the Rock’s favour by a 6-2 final score. Leonhardt said the win is a huge accolade for the team.

“It means a lot. These players earned every bit of it. They’ve put in the work week after week in practice, in games and in the way they support one another. To see that effort rewarded with a championship; that feels well-deserved. They know how far they’ve come since the start of the season, and standing at the top of the division is a reminder of what hard work and belief can accomplish.

“We had contributions from players across the lineup, including kids who may not always get the spotlight but stepped up when it mattered most,” Leonhardt continued. “That’s been the beauty of this team; everyone has had a role in this success.”

Leonhardt raved about the team’s progression over the course of the season leading up to their division championship, which they won thanks to their strong work ethic.

“This is a hardworking group of kids who simply love the game. Our motto is, ‘Outwork the other teams,’ and that really sums it up. They’ve learned that if they put in the effort in every shift, good things happen. They’ve also developed strong bonds off the ice, which you can really see in how they play for each other. It’s been great to watch the growth of each player from the start of the year until now. I’m proud of every boy on our team.”