For the third consecutive year, a team from the Georgian Bay Mid Ontario Hockey League will be in the provincial Junior C final.

Alliston Hornets of the GBMOHL defeated Napanee, 4-1, to advance to the finals.  In the previous two years, Penetang Kings not only reached the finals, they won the whole darn thing twice.

The Hornets lost the second game 6-4 and won the others 6-5, 5-2, 6-1, and 11-4.

Essex of the Great Lakes Division won the other semifinal but had a tougher time than Alliston. 

Essex also won the series 4-1, but three of those games went to overtime.   Napanee took game five by a score of 5-4, a thriller that went to overtime.  Essex won the other games, 2-0, 4-3 OT, 4-2, and 3-2 OT.

And on the baseball scene, I am told that Creemore will have a tougher time this year defending their North Dufferin Baseball League title after several players have moved, switched teams or decided to be a part-time player.

Notably, Braves’ veterans Ryan Verstegen and Andrew Millsap have decided to play on a more on a casual basis this season because of work commitments. Mac Morrish is going to play with the Mansfield Juniors, Dean Wines has moved to New Zealand to attend teachers college and Brad Soules is to have an operation and is potentially out for the season.

Braves coach Hammer Kinghan, who has recently moved to Orillia, clearly stated he is not going to coach the Orillia Hammers and is quite happy managing in Creemore.  So stamp out those rumours.
Hammer said that Don Bartly and his son Ryan will be playing in Creemore this season.  They previously played with Clarksburg. 

Don will be helping with the coaching duties and playing a bit too.  His son is a quick centerfielder and a left-handed pitcher.

When asked if the Braves will defend the league title, Hammer who has learned a thing or two about talking to the media and the ability to not let anything to slip out to give another team an edge said, “We’re going to give it our best shot.”   Prophetic or what!

And for the many Nashville Predators fans in the area – wasn’t that fantastic to see Wasaga Beach’s own Jason Arnott fire a blaster past Dominik Hasek to lead the Predators to their first victory and a comeback at that over Detroit.  Despite winning 5-3, Nashville still trails two games to one.

I feel for Chris Neil fans up on the hill in Flesherton country.  Ottawa is down 3-0 meaning Fleshertonites might be seeing their local hero sooner than they would like.

Another local Wasaga Beach hero will be back in the area, too.  Ray ‘Steady’ Edwards who learned the trade playing minor hockey in the Beach is now the assistant coach of San Antonio of the AHL.

His club is set to start playing Toronto in the first round of the playoffs.