Ravens advance to OMHAs

ESSEX — The Essex-Southpoint Ravens U11AE team beat LaSalle this past Thursday to win the Bluewater playdowns and advance to the OMHA finals.

It’s been a long road for the team to get to this point. When the year began, the coaches were out recruiting players to fill the roster instead of making cuts. The boys worked hard and developed through the season. The team finished in third place but continued to improve as time went on.

Team members in the pile somewhere are Chase McKim, Alex Antonios, Landen Long, Hudson Renwick, Alex Reissner, Nolan Mongeau, Sam Edwards, Zac Venebles, Levi Kuchta-Blatz, Aiden Little, Cole Rainville, Rowan Hayes, Nash McMurren, Patrick Rau, Landen Tiessen and Michael Miller. Cheering on his team, while watching for updates on his phone on a plane, was Alex Jackson.

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Last Thursday was the team’s final game of the Bluewater playdowns and they needed an outright win against the unbeaten LaSalle team to clinch first in the playdown.

The Ravens didn’t waste any time getting started. Alex Antonios scored 3:21 into the game, assisted by Alex Reissner and Landen Tiessen, followed a minute later by Levi Kuchta-Blatz, unassisted, and another by Michael Miller, assisted by Antonios.

Shortly into the second period, Levi Kuchta-Blatz netted his second goal, the game winner, on a pass from Nash Mc- Murren, and McMurren put in one more, unassisted, a few minutes later.

LaSalle pushed in the third period, scoring three goals, but thanks to goaltender Aiden Morgan they were unable to catch the Ravens, who will now play in the OMHA Tournament in Barrie April 1-3.