It's been a long time coming, but the Jr. C Alliston Hornets are the league champs after defeating the Penetang Kings 7-2 in game five of the Georgian Mid-Ontario Championship series tonight (Sun., March 16) on home ice at the New Tecumseth Recreation Centre.

The Hornets were hungry with the possibility of just minutes separating them from their first league title in nearly a quarter century, but the Penetang Kings, who have won the Schmalz Cup for the Jr. C title (the equivalent of an All-Ontario Title) for the past two seasons, had their backs against the wall and were fighting like tigers to stay alive.

Penetang's Adam Keskamp drew first blood on a powerplay just under five minutes into the opening period assisted by Kevin Imhoff and Aaron Duval in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series. The Hornets led the series three games to one and were looking to capture the title on home ice.

Penetang's Corey Hastings notched goal number two in the opening frame to give his team a 2-0 advantage assisted by Kelly Loughran.

The Hornets had a two-man advantage thanks to penalties in the frame for nearly 90 seconds, but couldn't make good on the scoring chance.

From all reports the score is not indicative of any lack of momentum on the Hornets part, as they had plenty of shots - they just weren't been able to put one in the Kings' net.

In the second frame, the Hornets hit the ice rejuvenated and scored two quick goals to tie it up 2-2.

The Hornets' 5'11" left winger Kyle McPherson was first to score unassisted as the second opened up just 1:56 into play. Then Kyle McDowell, the 6'1", 185 lb right winger tied it up for the Hornets just eight seconds before the three-minute mark.

The Hornets would have taken a 3-2 lead seven minutes into the second, but the goal was called back as the net was off its moorings.

With seven and a half minutes remaining in the second period, a powerplay gave the Hornets' left-winger out of Beeton, Robbie Rutledge, the chance he needed as he picked up passes from Kyle McDowell and Ryan Algar to score and give the Hornets the lead for the first time in the game.

In the third period, a powerplay just over six minutes in gave the Hornets' Aaron Maltais the opening he needed, as he picked up passes from Kyle Montpetit and Ryan Algar to score.

The floodwaters of Alliston goals continued in the third just past the nine-minute mark into the frame as 5’10”, 19-year-old right-winger Jason Campeau scored unassisted to make it 5-2 for the Hornets.

Then Kyle Brossard scored off a pass from Mike James to make it 6-2.

Another power play led Thomas Faris to make it 7-2 for the Hornets, assisted by Kyle McDowell and Cole Parker.

The game featured some stellar goaltending from Alliston's Jon Porretta and Pentang's Chris Daniels.

It's a good thing the Jr. C Hornets moved into their new home this season at the New Tecumseth Recreation Centre, because Lord knows where we would have put all the cars of fans who came out for game five of league championship series if they were still on the old ice pad at the Alliston Memorial Arena.

It was another full house as the Hornets hit the ice with a chance to leave it with the league cup and did just that. Every inch of ashphalt at the New Tecumseth Recreation Complex was covered and late comers were having to park on the stretch of the old 14th Line across the street from the complex at 6:15 p.m.

The atmosphere was one of jubilation as the hometown boys in green and gold won the league title.

The Hornets will now move on to the All-Ontario semi-finals for the Schmalz Cup. They will come up against the winner of a series currently underway between Kincardine and Walkerton. That series was tied at two games apiece with game five  yesterday (Sun., March 16). Walkerton won the game 6-3, to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

The next game is Wed., March 19 at 8:30 p.m. in Walkerton at the Walkerton Community Centre with game seven Thurs. March 20 at 8:30 p.m. in Kincardine, if needed.

That series and The Hornets' next series is being broadcast live on 95.5 FM, The Coast Radio Station. Audio web streaming  of the broadcasts on your computer can be found by clicking here.

Tickets for the semi-final series between Alliston and either Walkerton or Kincardine go on sale this Wed., March 19 at the New Tecumseth Recreation Complex Service Kiosk. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $6 for children under 12.  Please note, that due to fire regulations, only 875 tickets will be sold. The round will likely begin this Saturday at the New Tec Rec and then head west on Sunday for Game 2.

The Clarence Schmalz Cup is the Ontario Hockey Association's Junior "C" ice hockey championship and championship trophy. The tournament to determine the winner of the Cup is commonly called the All-Ontario Championships. The leagues that compete for the trophy are: the Central Junior C Hockey League, Empire Junior C Hockey League, Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League, Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League, Niagara Junior C Hockey League, and Western Junior C Hockey League.

Clarence (Tubby) Schmalz

The trophy was named in honour of Clarence (Tubby) Schmalz (1915-1981), a longtime hockey administrator who first got involved with organized sports in his adopted hometown of Walkerton, Ontario. He and his brother, his partner in a Walkerton hotel called the Hartley House, sponsored an intermediate softball team that won four consecutive provincial championships in the 1950s. Tubby Schmalz also operated a hockey team called the Capitols, who competed in the OHA Intermediate B ranks. He became an OHA director in 1956 and remained an active member of the organization for the next 22 years.

Schmalz served as OHA president from 1969 to 1972. In 1974 the Major Junior A program began operating independently of the association as the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League; Schmalz became the league's first commissioner, a post he held until 1978.

The OHA presented Schmalz with a Gold Stick award in 1977 in recognition of his contributions to the association. A year later it made him a life member. In 1979 he received a meritorious service award from the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now known as Hockey Canada). That same year, he was elected vice-chairman of the CAHA's board of directors. He was elected chairman in May 1981.

Less than seven months later, on the morning of Dec. 7, 1981, he died suddenly of a heart attack. It was 12 days before his 65th birthday.

OHA directors formed an honour guard at his funeral two days later at Sacred Heart Church in Walkerton. The association renamed the OHA Junior C Cup in his memory a year or two later, then collaborated with Schmalz's family in the creation of a commemorative trophy case in the lobby of the Walkerton Community Centre.

Check your Weekend and Wednesday Herald and www.allistonherald.com for updates on the Hornets'  progress in their bid to win this prestigious title for the first time in the club's history.