Mar 18, 2017 | Centstalk | 1505 views
Game 5 here in town!
With a strong 3-2 win over Milverton Drives last Saturday night the Huron East Centenaires move the best of 7 series to a 3-1 lead. With that, the opportunity to clinch the 2017 WOAA Sr A Mens Hockey Championship sits one game away tonight here in Seaforth.
Three years ago the Centenaires played to a tough 1-23 season record. However in the following two years the team has worked, building a stronger core of players and staying true to the plan set out from the team inception. "Our team was built around the idea of what hockey has meant to the community" said President Bill Tremeer. "The arena is a social center in all small towns and Seaforth is no exception. Winning games has been part of our goal set, but more important we have wanted a team made up of great guys, who play proud and make the community proud. That has been what we have strive for as a team. Good results come to those types of teams." While this isnt the top championship rung in the league, the players all see this championship as a box to check.
The Cents do take pride in the fact the defending WOAA SR AA Champions, Clinton Radars and the finals rival Petrolia Squires are two teams the Cents faced often this year and with some success. "This is a really close league." said Cents GM Tim McNaughton. "With all respect to the two teams in the finals, it feels good to say we beat both Cinton and Petrolia this year. Two really great hockey clubs." The club faced the two teams a combined 6 times in a very competitive 20 game regular season schedule.
The Cents have bolstered up the line up the last two seasons with key players. Last season, new faces like Adam and Chris Corbett, James Toye, Greg Masschelien, goalies Alex Hutchenson and Jesse Raymond were a few of the new players to join the Cents. "We had a good vibe about our team and town the first year we started." said McNatughton. "Despite the results on ice guys loved playing here in town and that attracts players." .
The team landed Seaforth natives Andrew Van Vliet, Rueben Smith. Snipers like Collin Hartwick, Calvin Penny, Mitchell's Chett Binning, Danny Bryan and Stu King joined the core group of veteran Centenaires. It is a tight group of players who have become good friends both on and off the ice.
"My wife and I just moved to Seaforth last summer." said defense men Rueben Smith. Smith played several seasons with the Tavistock Royals before moving to Seaforth with his wife. "I didn't really know a lot of people around town before. Seaforth was central for work for my wife and I. This team, the staff have become great friends and I am really enjoying playing hockey here and being part of this town."
"I played in Goderich and all three years here in Seaforth" said captain Brendon Merritt. "I love it. I love playing hockey and playing here in Seaforth. This town has had a lot of great teams and players come through. People understand hockey here and they have been behind this team. We played a lot of good hockey this year against some great teams. To win this championship would be fun, especially the way they like to celebrate here!"
Cents welcome Milverton to town Saturaday March 18th 2017, game 5 for 7:30pm puck drop.
For more information on the Cents go www.centenaires.ca