March 23,
2025
The barn was packed to the rafters on Sunday evening at the Cavan-Monaghan
Community Centre, as your Millbrook Stars squared off against the Newcastle
Stars for one more showdown – this time with everything on the line.
Winner take all.
When the puck dropped on opening face-off, your Stars charged like
thoroughbreds in a sprint. They pressed the attack – over and over again. They
were stopped, they hit posts, and they were stopped some more. At the other
end, Jennings stood tall when tested. Nonetheless, the first period ended at
0-0 despite Millbrook carrying the majority of play.
The second period looked largely similar to the first. The boys continued
with the heavy offensive zone puck possession, but remained unable to beat a
keeper who seemed locked in. The air was tense, and heart rates were dangerously
high across the board. As the period
wound down, Millbrook was called for a penalty in what truly was a head
scratching turn of events. This writer was certain at the time that Millbrook
was heading to the power-play. Instead, the boys found themselves short-handed,
and Newcastle made them pay – with two seconds remaining in the frame,
Newcastle snuck one just over the goal line in a devastating blow for
Millbrook. At the end of two periods, it was Newcastle 1 and Millbrook 0.
The message in the second intermission was simple. To paraphrase: Stay
true to your game. You’ve worked hard all year for this moment. Pour your
hearts into one final period and punch your ticket to the Red Hats.
And so, your Stars stepped onto the ice for the third period, determined
not to make it their last of the season. The effort was there. The grit was
there. But it wasn’t until five minutes remaining in the frame when the
breakthrough finally happened: As the line of Kasen Poole, Carter Rose, and
Owen Verdoch swarmed the offensive zone, it was Verdoch who snapped a low
frozen rope passed the Newcastle keeper into the cage...
Elation. Relief. New life. And
finally…. Momentum.
Your Stars buzzed and buzzed for the go-ahead goal in regulation – but
it was not to be. At least not now. The period ended with nothing decided.
Overtime loomed large. For the second time in three games, these two
teams stared down a 3-on-3, sudden death, ten-minute overtime. The stakes could
not be larger – the next goal would determine the fate of two teams: One team
to be crowned Victoria-Durham champion, earning a birth in the prestigious OMHA
Championship “Red Hat” Tournament, while the other team abruptly having their
season conclude, settling for “runner up”.
It was Gillespie, Dunlop, and Carney starting overtime off for your
Stars. The two sides battled up and down the ice, exchanging chances at both
ends. There were flurries of intense action, but also caution, as neither team
wished to give up high danger chances. Millbrook then took a penalty, and
Newcastle followed suit shortly thereafter, with neither fanbase all that
thrilled about the calls. At this point, the Dunlop trio hit the ice again,
tired and running on adrenaline.
Shortly thereafter, the most significant moment of the season arrived:
Forward Elijah Dunlop found a sliver of open ice, crossed the blue line in the
offensive zone with only one defenceman in his path, and fired a dart –
actually more of a rising missile – beating the surprised keeper bardown, and
ending the game.
Make the final: Millbrook 2 – Newcastle 1.
What a finish. What a game. What a play-off journey.
This writer is incredibly proud of this team. They battled through ups
and downs this year. Certainly, they had their lower times, particularly
earlier in the season when it was tough to buy a win. But they persevered –
they kept working and developing as individual players and as a team.
Eventually, confidence arrived, as did belief in each other. Not surprisingly, the
winning arrived. This result today seemed like a beautiful reward for their
collective hard work, growth, and dedication all season long.
This journey has but one more stop – Kingston, Ontario - home of the
2025 OMHA Championship Tournament. It’s a tremendous honour. The boys have
earned this. It’s their moment.
Go Stars Go.
M. Carney