Ayr Centennials finish dream season with second Schmalz Cup

Centennials win back-to-back Junior C crowns From CTV Kitchener: The Ayr Centennials didn’t let an early setback get them down as they won their second straight Schmalz Cup.

The Ayr Centennials scored early, scored often and never looked back en route to winning the second Schmalz Cup in franchise history – and their second in as many years.

They did it in front of their home fans, downing the Port Hope Panthers 6-3 to win the final-round series in six games.

Ayr got off to a hot start with Riley Clipper, Alex Mutton and John Nay all scoring within the first nine minutes of play.

Zachary Masterson potted a second goal late in the period, and the Centennials went into the intermission with a 4-1 league.

Team captain Mitch Klie and Masterton added two more goals in the third period, which brought Ayr frequent power plays.

The win was the capper to a fantastic series for the Centennials, who won 37 of 40 games in the regular season. Successive playoff sweeps of Burford, Norwich and Grimsby came next, followed by harder-won battles against Essex and – finally – Port Hope.

The Schmalz Cup is given out annually to the best Junior C hockey team in Ontario.

Prior to Ayr’s back-to-back wins, the last team from this part of the province to capture the title were the Paris Mounties, who won it in 1996.