2018-2019 Peewee Minor AAA League, Playoff and NOHA Champions
This group of hard working, speedy 11 years olds had one goal in mind this year, to be crowned the NOHA Champions. After going undefeated in the regular season and playoffs in 2017-2018 and continued winning right until their first loss which was in the NOHA Semi Final game last year, the team was determined for that not to happen again this year.
In 2018-2019 season, the 2007 AAA Soo Jr Greyhounds dominated the NOHLAAA regular season and ended the year as the League Champions with a record of 22-1-5. But unlike the prior season, the NOHA Championship was a playoff series and not a round robin format, which means teams would have to beat the Jr Hounds 3 times to advance.
In the Semi Final round, the Jr Hounds faced Nickle City Sons, the most improved team this season, and they battled hard bringing the series to game 5, after each team won 2 games at home. The atmosphere was electric for the fifth game that was held in Sault Ste. Marie, which ignited the Jr Hounds to win the final game and move on to the Finals verses the North Bay Trappers.
The Finals saw the leagues top 2 teams faceoff for the NOHA Championship. After splitting games 1 and 2 in Sault Ste. Marie, the games shifted to North Bay for game 3 and 4. A penalty filled game 3, slowed the momentum for both teams but the Jr Hounds took advantage of their chances and skated away with game 3 in their favour and a strangle hold on the series. In game 4, both teams came out hard, but it would be North Bay that struck first, a lucky bounce off a Jr Hound to put the Trappers up by one. Last season, the Jr Hounds saw 2 lucky bounces go in for Timmins in the NOHA’s Semi Final game, which ended the Jr Hounds season, but the determination and maturity of the boys did not let this bounce phase them. Shortly after, the Hounds got on the board and kept the momentum running. The Hounds control the game from there and even with a late serge from the Trappers, the Jr Hounds would not be denied their victory and were crowned 2019 Playoff and NOHA Champions.
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