Birmingham Rangers win Ontario’s oldest Bantam tourney

The Riverside Ontario International Bantam-Midget Tournament is Ontario, Canada’s oldest running Bantam tournament, dating back to 1959.  The tournament attracts teams from the United States and Canada as well as many other nations, including Great Britain, Sweden, Hungry, Slovakia, Russia and others. The tournament ran from December 26-30 and was held at the WFCU Centre in Riverside, home of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.

This year’s champions were the Windsor Jr. Spitfires (Midget Minor Division), the ’97 Birmingham Rangers (Bantam Major Division) and the ’98 Suburban Stars (Bantam Minor Division).

One of the better stories of the tournament was the relentless perseverance of the ’97 Birmingham Ranger team who entered the challenge down two players and later four in this notoriously physical tournament.

“At times we found ourselves with only two lines and our guys were getting very tired.  Yet, we had set our sights on winning this tournament and our players never let the adversity they faced become a distraction to achieving that goal. And, let’s face it, it helps a ton when you have two great net minders,” said Ranger coach, Jerry Reinhart.

The Rangers gave up only 7 goals in 6 games due to the fine backstopping of goalies Jack Leavy and Kyle Dowling.

The Rangers went undefeated in six games by beating four Canadian entrants in the round robin, besting the ’97 Troy Sting in the semi-final 1-0 and finishing the tournament with a 2-1 win over the Green Bay Gamblers in the final. The championship goal came on a one-timer by Jackson Heacock off a well-timed pass from twin brother, Mitchell, late in the second to break a 1-1 tie. Leavy, together with a five-man defensive effort by the Rangers, held the attacking Gamblers scoreless in the final period to clinch the championship.

“Our kids played with a ton of heart this week.  It shows what can be accomplished when you stay positive and focused on your game plan,” said Ranger coach Jack Leavy.

Coach Leavy’s son, Jack Leavy Jr. was the recipient of the Randy Schuchard Memorial Award, which is presented each year to the tournament’s most valuable goaltender.  Leavy allowed just three goals in four complete games (0.75 GAA). And in an overtime shootout against Riverside on the first day of the tournament (after the game finished regulation play in a 1-1 tie) he turned away 8 of 9 shooters before the Rangers won it on shoot out goals by Leavy’s teammates Tommy Violante and Ryan O’Hara.

“That Birmingham/Riverside game and the shootout that followed was one of the highlights of the tournament…unbelievable goaltending at both ends of the rink” said Gail Melrose, a long-time fan of the Riverside tournament and Windsor native.

Mrs. Melrose was there to see grandson, Ian play.  Ian, a Ranger captain, had an outstanding tournament.  Of the team’s 17 goals scored in regulation play Melrose accounted for 6 and assisted on another 7.  Tournament officials said that Melrose’s performance garnered the Bantam Major Ranger consideration for the Guy Morgan Tournament MVP, an award historically presented to the best Midget-level player in the tournament.  In keeping with tradition, this year’s award deservedly went to Michael Long of the Midget Minor Windsor Jr. Spitfires.

The ’97 Birmingham Rangers presently sit atop of the LCAHL Yzerman 2 White Division with an 8-3-3 record. Pictured above are, from left to right: Captain Will Semczak, Mitchell Heacock, Captain Dane Reinhart, Coach Jerry Reinhart, Jackson Heacock, Kyle Dowling, Ryan O’Hara, Captain Ian Melrose, Jack Wydra, Brendan O’Leary, Austin Fullmer, Austin Farrington, Sammy Marcero, Tommy Violante, Jack Leavy and Coach Jack Leavy.   Not pictured are Ranger players Brian Forester and George Hamaty, Coach Bill Christie, Manager Dave Marcero and Director of Parent Development, Tom Violante.

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