Milton Canadian Champion
A 3-0 cushion had just evaporated, but the Winterhawks’ championship aspirations certainly hadn’t.
Refusing to come unglued after being scored on three times in the last five minutes of yesterday’s (Tuesday) semifinals of the Richard Bell Memorial Tournament in Oakville, Milton’s AA minor bantams hung on for a double-overtime triumph over the provincially fifth ranked Streetsville Tigers.
Jack Turner delivered the heroics with a top-corner deposit off a nifty feed from tournament scoring leader Taylor Lemaire.
Sharing the spotlight with some solid netminding through sudden death was Jacob Strutt.
Buoyed by their emotionally-charged victory — after being blanked 1-0 by the Tigers in regulation play — the Winterhawks clinched the tournament title seven hours later with a 4-2 triumph over the second-ranked London Jr. Knights.
It was their second title win in as many tournament appearances, following on the heals of their Nations Cup victory in Michigan.
Gautam Varma scored the eventual game winner in the second period, while providing an insurance marker in the opening minute of the third was Zach Gustaw.
Lemaire and Emahn Hans — who led the Winterhawks with nine (3g, 6a) and seven (3g, 4a) points respectively — rounded out the championship scoring.
Standing on his head with the title up for grabs was Ethan Currie.
Milton edged the Chicago Bulldogs 3-2 in the quarterfinals, with Tyler Potvin tallying twice to lead the way.
He, Varma, Gustaw and Keaghan Croke all finished the tournament with four points apiece.