The defending champion Oakville Blades and the revamped Kingston Voyageurs are about to engage in what is hoped to be an intriguing final.

Both teams are in stark contrast to each other. But both have a lot in common. both are champions and deserve to be where they are. Here is a Kingston Whig Standard article that outlines just that;

Vees reload for title run
JUNIOR A HOCKEY: Kingston prepares for Ontario championship opener against Oakville
Posted By DOUG GRAHAM
Posted 7 hours ago


The Wellington Dukes deserve an assist for the Kingston Kimco Voyageurs' first appearance in the Ontario Junior Hockey League championship.

While the Dukes missed a chance to meet Kingston in the final when the Oakville Blades won Game 7 of their semifinal series Tuesday night, Wellington coach Marty Abrams, who hails from Kingston, established some motivation for Vees coach Evan Robinson in last season's playoffs.

"It's ironic that the person who referred to us that way isn't around anymore and we're going to the final," Robinson said.

Robinson was referring to a statement Abrams made to the Whig-Standardlast year when the Dukes had Kingston down 3-0 in the East Conference final.

At the time, Abrams said "(Kingston) built (its) team for this year. It's evident by looking at their roster."

The Dukes proceeded to sweep the Vees out of the playoffs, but the comments were not forgotten by Robinson and assistant coaches Peter Goulet and Casey Torres.

"It was something we put on the back of the dressing room door. It was huge motivation for me, Pete and Casey," said Robinson, whose team will travel to Oakville for Game 1 of the best-of- seven final Saturday night.

Game 2 is Sunday at 6:30 p. m. at the Invista Centre.

"Losing like we did and having those comments said really stirred the motivation for us for this season."

Robinson did go out and rebuild the Vees this season. Only four players -- Anthony Geldart, Mitch Latchford, Craig Laliberte and Cole Weedmark -- returned from last season's team.

The off-season acquisitions included goaltender Shawn Sirman and forward Adam McAllister from the Trenton Hercs and former Kingston Frontenacs Stephane Chabot, Justin Levac and Kevin Christmas.

"We've added some players and we've ended up with a great group of players, guys who are really playing for the right reason," Robinson said.

Either Oakville, the defending league champion, or Wellington would have been a formidable opponent for the Vees.

Oakville, coached by Carlo Coccimiglio, advanced by winning its second seven-game series in a row. Wellington has been the Vees' longtime rival and has had Kingston's number in the playoffs.

"To be honest, it would have been nice to play Wellington," Robinson said. "But we're thrilled to be where we are at and we're happy to go after this."

The Vees, 15-4 in their march to the league final, will be facing an older and more experienced team.

The Blades have nine 20-yearolds and eight 19-year-olds on their roster.

"They are definitely one of the best in Ontario, if not in the country. They have no Achilles heel," Robinson said.

"For us to beat them, we've got to be perfect."

The Oakville roster includes goaltender Matt Hache, who played for the Vees last season. Hache is one of the 20-year-olds, along with playoff scoring leaders Jeremy Walsh, Ryan Murphy and Lindsay Sparks.

The Vees, in contrast, have six 20-year-olds and two 19-yearolds.

"Our veterans have been good, but our leading scorer (Brock Higgs) is a 16-year-old, Mike Farrell is a 1990 (birth year) and Dustin (Walsh) is a 1991," Robinson said.

"Oakville's got the seasoning, though. They have a lot of players who have been to the RBC Cup (Canadian junior A championship) last year. They are just deep, big and they're good."

Robinson said his players are feeling good after advancing to the league championship for only the second time in the 36-year history of the franchise. Now, they want to win the first league title in franchise history.

"It's a great feeling for them," Robinson said. "Twenty years from now when they're coming back to the rink with their children, they can look up at those banners with pride.

"They can keep adding to those banners. Everybody has been enjoying the ride. We don't want it to end."

Article ID# 1506470