Minor bantams, bantams both dominant in title clinchers continued from p22 Saturday for the Rangers, who concluded a 3-1 victory over the Sabres in the championship series. Previously in OMHA playdowns, Oakville dispatched the Burlington Eagles 3-1 in the quarter-finals and defeated Whitby 3-0-1 in the semis. The Rangers, who also won an early bird tournament and reached the finals of an A-level competition in Peterborough, finish the season with an overall record of 55-10-5. Oakville was second to Acton in Tri-County league play, posting a mark of 22-4-2 and allowing 47 goals in those 28 games. "I think it was the depth of our team. There is very little difference between the top and bottom player on our team," Mackey said. "And we've had good, solid (defence)." Other members of the team are Cole Maddox, Sean Stodulski, Matthew McDougall, Jonathan Policelli, Ben Lyytikainen, Ryan Sheppard, Patrick Stewart, Avery Robertson, Dan Stefan, Ben Montgomery, Riley Cerovcec, James Mackey, Joshua Platt and James Carroll. Approximately half of the squad won an OMHA championship last season as minor atoms. Kevin Schledewitz, Brent Robertson and Kevin Hewitt also coach the Rangers, Ed Stodulski is the trainer, and Sandi Cerovcec and Jean Robertson are the managers. the final of the Richard Bell Christmas hockey tournament. Oakville's other win over Peterborough in the OMHA final was a 1-0 triumph in Game 2, when Long felt the Petes played their best game and the Rangers weren't exactly at the top of theirs. The Rangers' bigger hurdle on the way to winning the OMHA crown was the Orangeville Flyers, whom Oakville needed five games to dispose of in the playdown semifinals. Two of the Rangers' wins in that series came in overtime. "When we won that series, having won two in OT, we were mentally ready for whatever might come our way in the finals," said Long, whose squad was 25-2-1 in Tri-County league play this season. The Rangers also thrived in tournament competition this season. In addition to winning the Richard Bell, the team competed in three Alevel competitions, winning one and reaching the final in another. Long said the team's defensive play -- the Rangers allowed 29 goals in 28 league games -- was its key to success. "There weren't many games we didn't score two-plus goals," he said. "If you can average a goal against per game, it positions you well for a lot of victories." Members of the minor bantam AE Rangers are Nathan Taylor, Devlin Forsyth, Bryan Watson, Devon Wilson, Christian Eyram, James Rieckhof, Michael Legge, Malcolm Myers, Jack Creighton, Noah Gibson, Matthew Long, Adam Farley, Shane Randall, Brett Varey, Nicolas Hardy, Stephen Kemp and Adam Perruzza. Affiliate players Aidan Iaboni, Ken Lemieux, Carson Margolese, Matthew McGarrity, Carson Terry, Jack Turchet, Matthew Digiantommaso, Kevin Longhurst and James MacLean also contributed to the team's success. Jeff Gibson and Max Farley also coach the Rangers, Bob Randall is the trainer and Polli Taylor is the manager. 1-0, then claimed a 3-2 decision in Game 2 before the Flyers staved off elimination with a 3-2 victory at Joshua's Creek Arenas last Thursday. Beating Orangeville in the OMHA playdowns avenged Oakville's double-overtime loss to the Flyers in the semifinals of the International Silver Stick tournament earlier this season. "When we lost that game at the Silver Stick, the conversation we had with our players afterwards was that really hurt, but it wouldn't hurt as much as if it was the OMHA finals," said Rangers head coach Mike Stone. "We thought we'd get a chance at (Orangeville) again." The Rangers swept their previous two playdown opponents, Brampton in the quarter-finals and Lasalle in the semifinals. Oakville was 25-1-2 during the Tri-County league season and won the regional Silver Stick, an early bird tournament in Uxbridge and a competition in Pittsburgh. Members of the team are Jack Baldin, Malcolm Beard, Brad Byers, Kosta Makeravich, Jake Dickson, Luke Dickson, Ben Hamburg, Eric Hansen, Adam Lefebvre, Hamish McNeill, Adam Nemcsek, Connor Sinclair, Cameron Stone, Brandon Watada, Malik Wocker, Ben Yacula and Jacob Zedor. Affiliate player Alex Hayami suited up for the Rangers in the final game of the series as well. This is the third straight OMHA championship for this age group at the AE level, though Mike Stone said roughly half the roster has changed during that three-year period. Joe Baldin and Zoltan Nemcsek are assistant coaches, Brian Watada is the trainer and Linda Hansen is the manager. 23 | Thursday, March 28, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Potential for more OMHA championships this week Two more Oakville Rangers teams remained in contention for OMHA championships going into last night's (Wednesday's action). The atom A Rangers hosted Cobourg last night at Joshua's Creek Arenas, with the series tied at two games apiece. A victory by either team would clinch the OMHA title, but a tie would force a sixth game Sunday in Cobourg. Oakville won the first two games of the series but Cobourg fought back with overtime victories in Games 3 and 4. The minor peewee A Rangers will have at least two opportunities to claim OMHA supremacy this weekend. Oakville leads Napanee 2-1-1 as it prepares to visit Napanee Saturday. If ncessary, Game 6 would be played Sunday at River Oaks Recreation Centre. The peewee AE 2 and minor midget AA Rangers both lost their OMHA championship series over the past week. The peewees bowed out in four games to Barrie, while the minor midgets were edged in five games by Ajax. Minor bantam In their two games this season on the Olympic-sized ice surface at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, the minor bantam AE Rangers outscored their opposition 11-1. Saturday in Peterborough, the Rangers proved they can dominate in tiny rinks as well. Playing on the smallest surface they had seen all year, Oakville routed the host Petes 7-0 at Kinsmen Civic Centre to win the OMHA championship series in three straight games. "We were really surprised at that outcome," admitted Rangers coach David Long. "We're not a particularly large team. I think big ice surfaces help us and give our smaller, quicker guys more ice to work with." That might have been the case in the opening game of the series, when Oakville clobbered the Petes 7-1 at Sixteen Mile. In Oakville's other game played on the facility's biggest surface this season, the Rangers blanked Guelph 4-0 in Bantam After playing three tight, competitive games to start the OMHA final, the bantam AE Rangers emphatically clinched gold with a 6-0 romp Sunday in Orangeville. Oakville won the opening game of the series REGISTER FOR SUMMER HOCKEY CAMPS NOW! Go to northernfreezehockey.com · Great instructor ratios · 20+ hours of ice time · Lunch included Minor Ball Hockey In Oakville 8TH SEASON WITH 650+PLAYERS AND OVER 40 TEAMS. GAMES PLAYED IN LOCAL ARENAS Members of the Ontario Ball Hockey Association, the largest association in Canada SOME AGE GROUPS ARE FILLING UP SO REGISTER TODAY Largest kids ball hockey program in the area with proper age groups for ages 3 to 20 years old. 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