U13 B Boys earn spot at OMHA provincial tournament

The No Snow U13 B Boys, pictured celebrating a recent win, will compete the OMHA Provincial Championship April 3-5.

By Spencer Seymour

The No Snow U13 B Boys St. Marys Rock will compete at the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Provincial Championship April 3-5.

Head coach Jeff Richardson told the Independent he is ecstatic for his resilient squad to have made it to provincials after a season full of ups and downs.

“They’re a great group of kids who work hard every game,” said Richardson. “Even earlier in the season when we played a lot of tough teams, I was still impressed with their attitudes and their efforts. Now, it’s great to see them getting some success and being rewarded, and provincials is a big accomplishment for any team, so it’s great to see these boys going to get to experience that.”

Richardson noted the team began picking up steam after the calendar flipped, leading to the Rock’s eventual provincial final berth.

“It started in late January,” Richardson said. “We turned the corner, and we finished the regular season with five points in the last week, and I think the boys started getting some confidence. Ever since then, we’ve had solid goaltending, we’ve had offensive production from all three lines and the defencemen are moving the puck really well, and all of that has helped us start having success.”

According to the bench boss, the entire group hit a stride in late January.

“We started putting together full 40-minute games and had balanced offence from all three lines. We’ve had some games where we’ve battled from behind, games where, in the first half of the season, we didn’t have the confidence we have now, but in the second half, we’ve been down a few goals and came back to win, which we wouldn’t have done in the first half. When you start getting some wins, it gets addictive and they realize that they can do it. Ever since then, they started playing as a team and the results speak for themselves.”

Richardson said the team really began to believe in their chances to qualify for provincials after the first game of their playoff semi-final series where, despite narrowly losing, their strong teamwide effort convinced the Rock they could make it to the OMHA championship tournament.

“We started off against Lambeth and dropped the first game in overtime, but we outplayed them and the boys knew that we outplayed them,” Richardson said. “We adjusted things a little bit and took the next three, and the boys were super excited, which was great to see.”

Richardson, who has a chance to win a provincial title alongside fellow coach Dan Murrell, with whom he also won at the provincial level in their playing days, described his belief in the team’s depth and work ethic.

“We just have to continue to work hard every shift. We’re not a team that relies on one uber-talented guy. We need everyone going for us to have success. We’ve got a great opportunity at provincials. I think we have the chance to be right up there, and I think the boys have the opportunity to do something special. I know that they’re going to give their best effort like they have all year.”

“It brings back a lot of memories playing here in St. Marys and winning some provincial championships,” Richardson continued. “It’s something that you’ll never forget if you get the chance to do it. It’s very rare, but, like I said, it’s a great opportunity, and I know these boys will go out and give it their best, and we’ll make every game interesting.”