By Gary Groob
The St. Catharines Athletics are OJLL champions after defeating the Whitby Warriors 10-6 to capture the championship series four games to two. Whitby opened the scoring on a Matthew Ford goal, but the Athletics responded with four straight goals from Jaden Kennedy, Jameson Bucktooth, Isaiah Paul, and Lukas Rozon to take a 4-1 lead after one period. The Warriors chipped away in the second, with Cam Maunders and Ford finding the back of the net around a Tayoni Gallante marker for St. Catharines, cutting the Athletics’ advantage to 5-3 heading into the third.
Whitby refused to go quietly, scoring three of the first four goals of the third period to erase the deficit and tie the game 6-6. However, St. Catharines had the championship response. Trent Mooradian restored the lead at 8:07 with what proved to be the game-winning goal, before Ari Steenhuis struck twice to give the Athletics some breathing room. Gallante added an empty-netter in the final seconds to seal the 10-6 victory and send St. Catharines into celebration as the Athletics completed their championship run with a 4-2 series victory over the Warriors.
To The Game:
Whitby opened the scoring at 1:50 when Matthew Ford finished a Max Wetherup feed, with Easton Messina also picking up an assist.
St. Catharines answered with four straight goals to take control of the period. Jaden Kennedy tied the game at 4:21 off a feed from Arrow Booth, before Jameson Bucktooth gave the Athletics the lead just 29 seconds later, converting a Lukas Rozon pass.
Isaiah Paul extended the lead on the power-play at 9:30, finishing a Bucktooth feed, before Rozon added another at 14:09 off a Jaden Kennedy pass.
After one period, St. Catharines 4, Whitby 1.
Second Period
Whitby continued to battle back, with Cam Maunders opening the second-period scoring at 6:15, finishing a Matthew Ford feed with Bryceson Lamoureux also picking up an assist.
St. Catharines answered at 7:32 when Tayoni Gallante converted a Jack Woynarski pass to restore the Athletics’ three-goal advantage.
Matthew Ford then struck on the power-play at 10:15, finishing a Max Wetherup feed to once again bring the Warriors within two.
After two periods, St. Catharines 5, Whitby 3.
Third Period
Jameson Bucktooth opened the third-period scoring on the power-play at 2:13, finishing an Isaiah Paul feed to give St. Catharines a 6-3 advantage.
The Warriors then mounted a furious comeback. Matthew Ford scored at 3:35 off a Blake Mason pass, followed by Matt Souter on the power-play at 7:02 from Bryceson Lamoureux. Just seven seconds later, Easton Messina found the back of the net off an Aidyn Urbach feed, completing the three-goal Whitby run and tying the game 6-6.
St. Catharines responded quickly. Trent Mooradian restored the Athletics’ lead at 8:07 off a Jameson Bucktooth pass, a goal that would stand as the game-winner. Ari Steenhuis then provided some breathing room with a pair of goals at 11:17 and 16:12, both assisted by Jack Woynarski.
Tayoni Gallante put the finishing touch on the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:41 off a Zackary Toll feed.
Final: St. Catharines 10, Whitby 6.
The Three Stars:
1. Jameson Bucktooth
2. Matthew Ford
3. Ari Steenhuis
The St. Catharines Athletics will now represent the OJLL in the 2026 Minto Cup Tournament in Calgary, Alberta.
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