Junior Jags cap perfect season

Win final tournament at York University

A 22-0 record with four tournament championships to their credit sounds impressive enough, but a longer look at the recent achievements of Christ the King's Jaguars of Georgetown makes the junior boys' hockey team's undefeated streak seem even more incredible. CtK completed its perfect campaign by capturing the 24-team CanLan All-Ontario Junior Classic last week at York University, downing LaSalle 4-1 in the championship game. The Junior Jags' unbeaten run was remarkable in that there were few blowouts among the long list of wins, which included seven comebacks, three overtime victories and a thrilling 5-4 shootout decision over perennial Halton powerhouse Notre Dame in the semifinals of the Burlington Cup tournament. "These guys just wouldn't quit and they had the confidence in themselves to believe they could win even when things weren't going their way," said CtK coach Rod Forcier. "Many had roles on this team that were different than their roles on their other teams. If they had played as a team of all-stars, we never could have achieved what we did." The squad consisted of several elite-level minor hockey players-- unlike their senior varsity team counterparts, who can't play high school hockey if they've signed to play with a minor hockey organization-- and some notable bloodlines dot the lineup. Centre Andy Bathgate is the grandson and namesake of the longtime New York Ranger star scorer, while Chase Nieuwendyk's uncle Joe earned three Stanley Cups during his career. Mike Sgarbossa's older brother Rob also enjoyed five excellent seasons with the Georgetown Jr. A Raiders. Jaguar goaltender Craig Rylett, ranked in the top 10 amongst netminding prospects in the province for the upcoming Ontario Hockey League's Priority Selection, was spectacular in the Burlington Cup triumph over Notre Dame, and blueliner Steve Silas also garnered MVP honours for one of the tournament triumphs. The junior Jags had 22 players on their roster, but for various absences rarely had a full lineup, yet they still managed to rack up the four titles, beginning with the Wave Cup and Loyola Cup.

Christ the King's Jaguars proved to be the best junior (Grades 9-10) high school boys' hockey team in the province by recently taking top spot at the CanLan All-Ontario Junior Classic tourney at York University, capping an undefeated spring season at 22-0. Team members (front, from left) are: Ryan Kelly, Riley McGilloway, Matt Sargent, Craig Rylett. Second row: Andy Bathgate, Trever Fillier, Chase Nieuwendyk, J.P. Villeneuve, Rob Wright. Third row: Robbie Murden, Elliot Montag, Brandon Medeiros. Back row: Coach Rod Forcier, coach Mike Depelsmaeker, Anthony Van Doorn, Mike Sgarbossa, Steve Silas, Ryan Brazeau, Jonty More, Cody Gresswell, coach Tim Stephenson, coach Doug McCallion. Absent were: Dale Deon, Marc Drake, manager Reid Parker, Kamil Burghardt, Patrick White.