I figured that I would leave you with some fun facts to mull over for the summer.

As you all know, the Omegas are this season's League Champions.
- This is the 7th time in 12 seasons that the Omegas have done so.
- Herb Zylstra Sr., Chad VanReenen, Freddie VanReenen Jr., Rick Anjema, & Mark Zylstra have been on the Omegas for all seven of these championship seasons.
- There are four Omegas that will get their name on the "Case Schouten Memorial Trophy" for the first time this season. They are: Dave Giffen, Tim Allen, Jared Millberry, & Kurtis Tamming.

The Omegas were the fourth seed going into the playoffs, and barely made it in by the skin of their teeth, I might add.
- The last time a fourth place seed won the championship was six seasons ago, when the Crusaders won it in 2007-08. Actually, the Flyers were the fourth seed in the season before that (2006-07), and won it that year.
- This season's Omegas, the 2007-08 Crusaders, & the 2006-07 Flyers are the only fourth place seeds to win the championship since I started keeping track of stats in 1989.
- While I was checking my archives for this, I found out that there has never been a championship team that has come from the third seed (at least not since I started keeping stats in 1989). - now there's a fun fact, huh?

I can just see it next season, that nobody will want to be the third place seed.

Thanks for making this a very enjoyable season to run this league. Have a great summer, everyone!
Terry

She's all over, folks.
Congratulations goes out to the Omegas, who won the best of three finals series against the Flyers in a two game sweep.

Lance Ross put the Omegas on the board first, when he scored four minutes into the game. Three minutes later Tyler Veenendaal tied it up for the Flyers. Dave Giffen put the Omegas ahead again when he scored with four minutes to go in the first period.
Five minutes into the second period the Omegas stretched their lead to 3-1 when Mark Zylstra scored. Late in the period, when Tim Allen scored to give the Omegas a 4-1 lead, you could see that it took the wind out of the sales of the Flyers.
The Flyers had one last shot at it when they got a late third period powerplay. They pulled the goalie and laid on the pressure. Ryan Cross was able to score one to bring the Flyers to within two goals, but with only six seconds to go, the game was over anyways. The Omegas won it 4-2.
Chad VanReenen is the Player of the Game. He had three assists in the Omegas' victory.

Game 1 of the Finals on Saturday night did not disappoint.
It was a close game all the way through that wasn't over until the final buzzer (that's right - the buzzer was actually working!).
The Flyers got on the board first when Ryan Cross scored half-way through the first period. A couple of minutes later, the Flyers added another when Matt Kreeft was successful on a penalty shot. The Omegas came back a few minutes later on a goal by Lance Ross. Mark Zylstra tied it up for the Omegas when he scored with two minutes to go in the first.
The Flyers took a 3-2 lead when Dustin Bouma scored half-way through the second period. Five minutes later, the Omegas tied it up again on a goal by Tim Allen. The teams went into the third period all tied up at 3-3.
The Omegas led for the first time in the game when Curtis Tamming scored in the first minute of the third period. This goal put the Omegas up 4-3. Although there was much action after this, neither team scored again, giving the Omegas a 4-3 win. The Omegas lead the best of three final series 1-0.
Lance Ross is the Player of the Game. He had a goal & two assists for the Omegas.
The Flyers will hope to tie the series up this Friday (March 21) and send it to a third game next week Saturday (March 29).

Game 1
Saturday, March 15 @ RBC Centre (rink 2)
7:00pm - Flyers vs. Omegas

Game 2
Friday, March 21 @ Pt. Edward Arena
7:00pm - Omegas vs. Flyers

Game 3 (if necessary)
Saturday, March 29 @ RBC Centre (rink 2)
6:30pm - Flyers vs. Omegas

Just like they had done in last year's playoff series, the Hawks & Omegas needed a third game to decide it.
The Hawks got on the scoreboard first when Calvin Pelleboer scored with 4:21 to go in the first period. Less than a minute later, Ryan Tamming, who played a great game for the Hawks, scored to put the Hawks up 2-0.
The tables turned in the second period. Early in the period, Lance Ross scored to put the Omegas on the board. Four minutes later, Ian VanReenen scored a "flukey" one to tie the game up at 2-2. A couple of minutes later Jared Millberry scored to give the Omegas a 3-2 lead. This is how the score remained going into the third period.
The third period was quite "wide open". Both teams were going back & forth with great chances. If not for the outstanding goaltending on both ends, the game would've been much different. With all these chances, neither team was able to get one past either goalie.
The Hawks pulled their goalie in the last minute, but Mark Zylstra scored into the empty net to seal the trip to the finals for the Omegas.
We'll let the goaltenders, Pete Lindhout & Mike Ward share the Player of the Game honours for this one.

With this victory, the Omegas will meet the Flyers in the Finals, starting tonight (Saturday, March 15).