U11B Battalions win all three games in best two out of three semifinal series

Brant Battalion U11B team celebrates after a game three win against the Ayr Flames on Sunday, March 8. The win propels them into the Southern County Finals against Twin Centre. 

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

The Brant Battalion U11B team faced more than just their opponent in a dramatic Southern County playoff semifinal series against the Ayr Flames this weekend.

Despite controversy, delays and a forced replay that threatened to derail their momentum, the Battalion remained focused and determined, ultimately winning a decisive Game 3 to keep their season alive and advance to the finals.

The best-of-three series opened Friday, March 6 in Paris, where the Battalion edged Ayr 2-1 in a tightly contested back-and-forth game.

After a scoreless first period, Levi Blake put Brant on the board in the second period, finishing a play set up by Jett Rollins and Alex Thoms.

Midway through the third period, the game took an unusual turn when Ayr’s goaltender left the ice due to illness during the final 12 minutes of play. He later returned, with Brant holding a 1-0 lead.

Nolan Kearsley extended the Battalion’s lead with an unassisted goal, putting Brant ahead 2-0 before Ayr responded late to cut the deficit to one. The Battalion held on for the 2-1 victory.

The series shifted to Ayr the following day, where Brant delivered one of its strongest performances of the season.

Dominating possession and the offensive zone for much of the game, the Battalion limited the Flames to just six shots on goal in a commanding 2-0 win.

Nash McLaren opened the scoring in the first period with an assist from Jacoby Bonnell. The Flames pressed late, but Bonnell sealed the victory with an empty-net goal from the defensive zone with just 38 seconds remaining in the third period.

Celebrations, however, were short-lived.

Following the game, the team learned that Ayr had appealed Friday night’s result, citing rules related to goaltender injuries. In the rulebook, a team with an injured goalie is allowed 10 minutes to recuperate. Ayr appealed they did not have proper recuperation period and they were given a penalty for delay of game when the game resumed, when the penalty was not warranted. The Ontario Minor Hockey Association ruled in favour of Ayr, ordering the final 12 minutes of Game 1 to be replayed.

That replay took place Sunday, March 8.

Brant lost the resumed portion of the game, forcing a sudden Game 3 immediately afterward to decide the series.

The Battalion fell behind 1-0 after the first period but refused to let the setback define their weekend.

The team rallied with disciplined, heads-up hockey. Forward lines moved the puck effectively while backchecking hard, and the defensive corps disrupted Ayr’s attacks by breaking up plays and intercepting passes. Goaltender Mason Monteiro was steady in net throughout the series, turning aside several Ayr scoring chances and keeping Brant within reach.

The breakthrough came late in the second period when Alex Thoms scored to tie the game 1-1.

Momentum quickly shifted.

Jacoby Bonnell scored the go-ahead goal at the 13-minute mark of the period, and Nash McLaren added an insurance marker with just two minutes remaining. Blake assisted on all three goals.

The win secured Brant’s place in the Southern County finals, where the Battalion will face Twin Centres for a chance to advance to the OMHA finals.

Head coach Jon Kristman said the team’s ability to stay composed through the weekend’s challenges made the victory even more meaningful.“The team overcame a lot of adversity through the weekend and pushed through despite what seemed like everything against us,” said Kristman. “The kids stayed motivated and continued to grow and pushed forward in their season.” Following the hard-fought victory, the Battalion gathered at Eggsmart in Paris for a celebratory meal and a chance to decompress after an intense and emotional playoff series.