Babbage lifts Don Mills over Kitchener in 2OT
Rhett Kimmel kept the Kitchener Jr. Rangers alive into the second overtime but a Jack Babbage game winner off a perfect pass from Tyler Weiss sent the Don Mills Flyers to the 2016 OHL Cup with a 4-3 victory.
Kimmel was sensational for Kitchener, limiting the Flyers to a 2-for-13 mark on the powerplay in a chippy affair that included a parade to the penalty box by both benches. He provided a big pad save off Flyers defenceman Declan Chisholm before the rebound was sent cross-crease for a waiting Babbage who made no mistake, slipping a shot past the outstretched Kitchener goaltender.
Weiss finished the game with two goals and an assist as the Flyers, who were eliminated in a GTHL quarter-final series with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, are back in business.
“We’ve seen it from him all year and he did it again,” said Babbage of Weiss, who spent a lot of time with the puck on his stick over five periods of play. “It was a great pass and I just saw room and took the shot.”
Babbage, who hails from Tully, New York, says his club is playing with a purpose this week.
“The loss to the Jr. Canadiens was deflating for us but we knew we had something left to prove. We want to come out and empty the tank this week and show people what we can do.”
The Don Mills victory saw them overcome a 3-1 deficit as Babbage finished the afternoon with a goal and two assists while Sam Rhodes had a pair of helpers.
Kitchener’s Gianfranco Commisso found the back of the net twice while Rangers captain Luke Bignell had a goal and an assist in the loss.
The Flyers join the Shanahan Division where they’ll compete with the Mississauga Rebels, Barrie Jr. Colts, London Jr. Knights and Elite Hockey Group.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Don Mills – Tyler Weiss (2G, 1A)
Kitchener – Rhett Kimmel (G)
