IBHL crowns new champions By Brian Dunn
By Brian Dunn

The championship Sports Unlimited team consists of (back) Jon Lee, Tony Sousa, Claudio Campoli, Brent Lewis, Steve Robichaud, (middle) Rob Sytsma, Steve Smith, Steve Sauve, Jeremy Ciccerlli, Aiden Maloney, (front) Brad Bunn, Derek Lemme, Evan Maloney (goalie). Absent was Tyler Woodison.

The IBHL's 10th season has ended, with a new champion crowned and the 5-year reign of the CVPM/Blue Team ended in overtime.

Sports Unlimited 3, Blue Team 2 (OT)

In a game that saw penalties and chirpiness out-weigh goals, and change the focus of the crowd from play making to penalty taking, Sports Unlimited showed that they could pull it together and hand the Blue Team their only loss of the entire season.

In the first frame each team's respective netminders (Damian Fletcher, Blue and Evan Maloney, Sports) kept everyone off the score sheet except for a pair of penalties.

Period two had Lee Erwin blast a point shot (with assists going to Matt Wilkinson and John Uren) past Sports' keeper giving the Blue Team a one-goal lead. Owen Speirs then added a second marker for Blue from Geoff Christie and Uren, and they took a two-goal lead into the final frame. Each squad did end up with four penalties a piece for the period.

The 3rd frame saw Sports trying to rekindle some sort of spark to try and solve the solid tending and speedy forechecking of Blue. Steve Smith was able to put the ball into the back of the net part way through the frame on a pass from Jon Lee. This seemed to give Sports some life back. As the period was coming to a close Sports forwards were buzzing around Blue's net and Jon Lee was able to poke one in for the tie just before the buzzer went.

After a short break the overtime period began. Both teams started out the period a little tentative, feeling each other out, seeing whom would make the first mistake. As the period wound down toward the mid-way mark, Sports was able to put in a scrambled ball by Brent Lewis assisted by Brad Bunn and Tony Sousa, to get the championship!

Thanks to all the supporters for the IBHL. It has now been 10 years of IBHL organized league play and we are looking forward to expanding and continuing the experience.

Special thanks to Brandon, Jim, John, Carl, Shane and Bob (time keeper and refs). To Mark Pavilons and Bill Whitbread for keeping the public informed, to the sponsors, thanks from the players and the league. Finally, to all the players, thanks for the great year and we hope that you will all come back for year 11!