7 OHL grads win OUA Championship with York

Seven OHL graduates are 2017 OUA Men’s Hockey Champions with the York Lions following a 4-3 win over the visiting Queen’s Gaels at Canlan Ice Sports Arena.

Former Ottawa 67’s, Owen Sound Attack and Windsor Spitfires power forward Steven Janes scored the deciding goal with 4:34 remaining in the third period to give the Lions their first OUA Championship since 2004.

Niagara IceDogs graduate Shayne Rover assisted on the game winner while recent OHL grad Daniel Nikandrov (Sarnia Sting/Peterborough Petes) also got in on the scoring for York.

The Lions outshot the Gaels 34-19 as Queen’s goaltender Kevin Bailie (Oshawa Generals/London Knights) made 30 saves in defeat. Slater Doggett (Kingston Frontenacs/Windsor Spitfires) scored a pair of goals for Queen’s while Eric Ming (Kitchener Rangers/Niagara IceDogs) notched two assists.

While York claims its first OUA title in 13 years, Queen’s winds up with a silver-medal result for their best finish since their last championship back in 1981.

Both teams have qualified for the U SPORTS Championship that begins in Fredericton, NB next week. They’ll be joined by the McGill Redmen from the OUA who defeated the Windsor Lancers 6-3 in a winner-take-all wild card game on Friday.

OHL GRADUATES & OUA CHAMPIONS WITH YORK
OHL graduating team in brackets

Goaltenders:
Alex Fotinos (Windsor Spitfires)

Defencemen:
Tyler Mort (Niagara IceDogs)
Shayne Rover (Niagara IceDogs)
Nick Zottl (Mississauga Steelheads)

Forwards:
Steven Janes (Windsor Spitfires)
Daniel Nikandrov (Peterborough Petes)
Trevor Petersen (Niagara IceDogs)