The Amherstburg Admirals may have seen their season come to an end last Thursday night, but the 2024-25 campaign is being heralded a success.
Ten more wins from the previous year, along with 23 more points, a first round comeback playoff triumph over the Wheatley Sharks and well-deserved accolades from the rest of the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (Junior C) West Stobbs Division.
“I am proud of how far we came this year as a team,” said Admirals’ Zack Gervais who, in his rookie season as a head coach led fellow coaches in being named the division’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
Gervais noted that Amherstburg beat both Lakeshore and Essex during the regular season, a feat that has not been accomplished by the Admirals in several years.
At the Libro Centre last Thursday night, Charlie Coristine scored for the hosts less than two minutes into the game but it was all Lakeshore in the second and third periods, taking the best-of-seven series in four straight games with a 4-1 win.
“We told the guys before the game we don’t care what the score is just as long as you leave it all on the ice,” commented Gervais.
Lakeshore’s Marco Sladoje scored just 25 seconds into the middle period on a powerplay and Kyle Kelly got the winner. Aedon Sullivan added a pair in the third for the defending provincial champions.
“They just took over, they’ve got a lot of skill,” said Gervais.
Amherstburg rookie goalie Dominic DeZorzi had a busy night making 32 stops while at the other end Boe Piroski turned away 20, including just three in the final 20 minutes.
There were a lot of hugs on the ice and in the dressing room following the final game and for Jadyn Brown a chance to look back on an outstanding four-year tenure that saw his commitment and leadership to the club shine through in a big way.
Recruited as a defenceman, he primarily played as a checking line left winger this year and was an assistant captain.
Brown leaves behind some memorable moments as well as accomplishments that include 161 games, eight goals and 28 points along with 116 penalty minutes.
“There is a lot of emotion,” said Brown immediately after his final game. “Four years ago, I came out here, I got a call and it was all for fun.”
Brown was a regular at community events and he said that his experience playing for the Admirals definitely helped him grow as a person.
“We (Admirals) battled and we fought one thing – adversity and that is going to help me in the future.”
Also playing in their final games were blueliners Ryan Clark along with Jack Bulmer and Darby Drouillard all who contributed to the success of this year’s team.
Gervais noted that the third and fourth games against the Canadiens were much better than the first two.
“We played well, our D-zone strategy, we changed it before Game 3,” said Gervais.
Last Tuesday in Lakeshore, Bulmer had the lone goal for the visiting Admirals while the division’s top rookie Nicolas Rosati, Brandon LeBlanc and Sladoje replied for the Canadiens.
SLAPSHOTS — Lakeshore will now meet Essex for the division finals… Playoff numbers for the Admirals included Rory Sandison five goals and five assists for ten points (5-5-10), Ryan Clark 2-8-10, Drew Booker 4-5-9, and Brett Jones 3-6-9.
By Fred Groves
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