As the Barrie Colts cleaned out their lockers Friday, they said some good-byes, laughed, cried and held their heads high on a year that was successful despite not winning an OHL title.
On Wednesday, the Niagara Ice Dogs defeated the Colts in a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference championship to advance to the OHL final against the London Knights. Barrie flirted with first in the Eastern Conference all year, posting a 43-22-3 record, good enough for second in the conference. The Colts were forced to seven games in the first round by Mississauga, swept North Bay in the second, and of course felt the sting of a sweep to the Ice Dogs after that.
General Manager Jason Ford knows that everyone has a heavy heart right now, but believes in the organization to keep providing fans with a successful on-ice product year after year.
“This one hurts,” said Ford. “We felt we certainly had Niagara in that first game and throughout the series we kept playing hard. They (Niagara) are hot right now and playing great all-around hockey. We have some guys moving on from the OHL, but their leadership has provided the players that will still be with us with invaluable experience they will carry next year.”
What made this playoff run very special is that there were no first round picks on the roster, a credit to Barrie’s scouting and patience. Key moves near the OHL trade deadline brought in some help not only for this run, but possibly set the tone for next year. Facing a 2016/2017 season with a fully inexperienced squad, Cameron Lizotte, Dylan Sadowy, Greg DiTomaso and Keigan Goetz were all brought in and are eligible to return next year to pick up where they left off.
“There’s only been one season where this franchise didn’t make the playoffs in 25 years, I’d say that’s pretty good,” said Ford. “We like to think that we are an organization who’s fans know will be competitive every year. The hard part is when you do that year after year and come up short of some expectations; it’s seemingly difficult to get it going again the following year. Our expectations as a team were met, we wanted to win the Central Division and we did that. We would have liked to go further but so does everyone else. I’m proud of this whole club.”
Some players won’t have the chance to pull the Barrie colours over their head again, and while they are off to bigger and better things, overagers Kevin Labanc, Michael Webster and Justin Scott will be missed by the Colts organization greatly.
Labanc used his last OHL year to become the Colts single season points leader (127 points), was voted the OHL’s overage player of the year, led the OHL in scoring and impressed the San Jose Sharks enough to sign him to an entry-level contract. The Staten Island, NY native was not at the Barrie Molson Centre Friday, as he was called to travel with the San Jose Barracuda as they pursue the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup. Scott was in the locker room and full of emotion as he leaves the team he joined as a young rookie.
“This is a really hard day and it sucks,” said the Colts centre. “You dream of making it to the OHL, then you dream of winning the OHL title or more and to fall short doesn’t feel very good. But I’ve enjoyed every year and being with the guys I’ve played with. Playing under a coach like Dale Hawerchuk was unbelievable and will only help me as I get older.”
A controversial call in game three of the Eastern Conference series saw Colts captain Webster receive a 10-game suspension. As he sat out game four and watched his team be eliminated, the player who played every game of his OHL career with Barrie had every reason to be bitter and angry with a league that many say are in need of an outside disciplinary board. The classiness and maturity that got him the ‘C’ on his sweater was on display as he talked about that suspension and his now-ended junior hockey career.
“I really didn’t feel like it was worthy of a ten-game suspension,” said Webster. “There’s only one angle that looks bad and maybe that’s what they were really swayed by, but in the end the league is just looking out for player safety and I understand that. I’m really the only one that knows that I didn’t want to hurt that kid, I wouldn’t do that. But I won’t let this one incident tarnish my memories of playing here. I love the league; I really love my Colts and all the fans. This team is special, it’s a real tight family from top to bottom. I’ll cherish every opportunity I was given and that’s what I’ll remember.”
As fans see many key components leaving and wonder what the future will bring, they need know that in addition to the players who came over in the aforementioned trades, there is a core of young players here ready for next season to start. The thought of a more experienced Andrew Mangiapane returning should leave fans salivating. Mangiapane came within a goal of sitting amongst OHL goal-scorers, and finished the season with 106 points (51 goals, 55 assists) in 59 games. A Calgary Flames prospect, Colts fans are hoping he lives out his NHL dream, just not next year. The announcement earlier this month that head coach Dale Hawerchuk was re-signed to a three-year extension is also big news for the club. Rookie Lucas Chiodo was one of many Colts players feeling the emptiness of a season unfinished, but was more upbeat when talking about the future.
“This was such a sad day for all the guys, especially those leaving,” said Chiodo. “I can’t really put into words how empty the feeling is. But when talk about guys getting ready in the off-season comes up, or when we think about having a summer to regroup and put some thought into a fresh season, it’s refreshing. It reminds you that the season is over, not the goal.”
Lizotte, who came over at the trade deadline from Peterborough, is already a Colts player through and through and assures the Barrie faithful that the team will be ready next season.
“It didn’t take long to mesh with this town as the fans are amazing,” said Lizotte. “They welcomed me right away, maybe it’s the beard I don’t know. I know that we’ll be starting fresh when that puck drops next season and the goal is always the goal and that is to bring Barrie an OHL title and then some.”
