By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
Four South Kent Lightning alumni are International Silver Stick champions.
Alex Crow, Evan O’Rourke and Jameson Dunn from Ridgetown, and Zander Foulis from Blenheim, are members of the Kent Cobras U-15s who won the International Silver Stick U14-15 ‘A’ division in Port Huron, Mich., on the Jan. 29-Feb. 1 weekend.
The Cobras won the prestigious tournament despite being one loss away from elimination after starting their pool play with a 1-2 record.
They stayed alive with a 4-3 win over the Newmarket Renegades and never looked back, going a perfect 3-0 in the playoff round to claim the first International Silver Stick championship for the Kent (formerly Chatham) Minor Hockey Association in 24 years.
“The boys played hard and played the best hockey as a team all year, just in time for the Bluewater playoffs,” said Cobras’ head coach Mark Woodall.
The Cobras went 5-0 at the Silver Stick Regional in Watford in December to qualify for the International tournament in Port Huron.
It was the third year in a row this team played in the International tournament after winning the Regional qualifier.
“It’s an amazing feeling to finally get over the hurdle and bring back the championship,” Woodall said.
O’Rourke and Crow played on all three teams, while this is Dunn’s first season.
Foulis played on the Cobras two years ago, returned to South Kent last year, and rejoined the Kent team this season.
Foulis was named the tournament’s most valuable player and selected to the all-star team, recording four goals and three assists.
O’Rourke was also selected as a tournament all-star as the defenceman had three goals and five assists.
Cobras’ goalie Jeffrey Hoeksma was also chosen to the tournament all-star team.
Dunn finished the tournament with a goal and two assists, while Crow had three assists.
The Cobras finished second in their four-team pool to advance to the playoff rounds.
Kent defeated NCYH Eagles 6-0, but lost to Canton Victory Honda 3-2 and the Midwest 49ers 2-0, as they faced elimination in their game against Newmarket.
But the Cobras met the challenge with a 4-3 win to advance to the playoff round, finishing tied with Canton at 2-2 while Newmarket and NCYH were both 1-2-1.
The Cobras, seeded seventh out of the eight playoff teams, started their trek towards destiny with an impressive 6-3 quarterfinal win over the Collingwood’ AA’ Blues, who were undefeated in their pool play.
The win pitted the Cobras against the South Oxford Storm, the No. 1 ranked ‘A’ team in Ontario, in the semifinals on the morning of Feb. 1.
Kent held a slim 3-2 lead when Hoeksma stopped a breakaway with under four minutes to protect the lead, and his teammates responded with an insurance goal on the next shift to complete a 4-2 victory to punch their ticket to the championship game.
The title game was a rematch of the tournament’s opening game as the Cobras had the opportunity to avenge the 2-0 loss to Midwest, the fourth-ranked team in Ontario.
The Cobras came out flying as they took a 4-0 lead in the first period and led 6-2 after two.
The 49ers scored twice early in the third to make it a two-goal lead, but after a timeout, the Cobras regained their composure and iced the game with an empty net goal.
The Cobras edged the Tecumseh Shoreline Eagles 3-2 in the Regional final on Dec. 21 in Watford after ousting the London Jr. Mustangs 6-1 in the semifinals.
Kent defeated the Talbot Trail Blazers 2-1, Mt Brydges Cougars 4-3, and the Ausable Valley Coyotes 4-to go 3-0 in their pool.
The Cobras will play a four-team home-and-home playoffs with the Lake Erie North Stars, Belle River Canadiens and Tecumseh-Shoreline Eagles to determine which team advances to the OMHA playoffs.
