2002 OHA Semi-finalists

SEASON SUMMARY

The 2001-02 Navy Vets had a terrific season. The team combined size and talent to excel in scoring, defence, and toughness.

They won 25 games and had 52 points to finish in 1st place in the West Division during the regular season by 10 points over rival Norwich Merchants. They beat New Hamburg Firebirds in 6 games in the West Division Semi-Finals and then knocked off Norwich in 5 games to win the West Division title. They then upset the East Division champ Chippawa Riverhawks, who had an identical season record as the Vets, in 6 games to win the Niagara District Junior C Hockey League Championship (Taylor Winkler scored the Game#6 winner at 11:30 of the 3rd OT period before 1500 ecstatic fans) and move on to the OHA Semi-Finals against the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League champion Essex 73s. That series was hard fought with the Navy Vets finally succumbing in 4 games.

The team captured the enthusiasm of the city during their late season heroics with fan support building in numbers and noise with each playoff victory to a peak in the 2 games at Southwood Arena for the OHA SF that saw over 1000 fans at each game.

The Navy Vets were led up front by the trio of Jeremy Demarest, Chad Paton, and captain Matt Carey. Demarest won the West Division scoring title with 62 points and a division-high 40 assists. Demarest also was named Most Sportsmanlike in the West Division. Forward Taylor Winkler was among the league leaders in hits. Carey was named the Navy Vets MVP for the season and Paton was named the team’s Playoffs MVP.

The blueline was anchored by Chris Corriveau, Scott Roode, and Sean McLaren.

The goaltending tandem of Mike Matika & Matt Richardson provided stellar goaltending all season finishing 2nd in the West Division in Goals Against.

The team was led by West Division Coach of the Year Scott Brooks.

FINAL STANDINGS

Team GP W L T OTL GF GA P
East
Chippawa Riverhawks 36 25 9 1 1 173 110 52
Grimsby Peach Kings 36 24 9 3 0 161 110 51
Dundas Blues 36 23 9 2 2 151 123 50
Glanbrook Rangers 36 18 14 2 2 135 131 40
Caledonia Corvairs 36 15 19 1 1 129 148 32
Dunnville Terriers 36 7 25 1 3 104 188 18
West
Woodstock Navy-Vets 36 25 9 1 1 — — 52
Norwich Merchants 36 19 13 2 2 — — 42
Simcoe Storm 36 13 19 2 2 — — 30
New Hamburg Firebirds 36 11 21 2 2 — — 26
Paris Mounties 36 8 23 3 2 — — 21

PLAYOFFS

West Division SF

Navy Vets beat New Hamburg in 6 games

Norwich beat Simcoe

West Division Final

Navy Vets beat Norwich in 5 games

NDJCHL Final (OHA QF)

Navy Vets beat Chippawa in 6 games (Taylor Winkler scored the Game#6 winner at 11:30 of the 3rd OT period)

OHA SF

Navy Vets lost to Essex in 4 games

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