Fifty-five Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) hockey championships were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the championships – and the presentation of ‘Red Hats’ to the winners – up in the air.
OMHA has now taken the unprecedented step of declaring all 110 teams involved as “Co-Champions” for the 2019-2020 season. All will receive the Red Hats presented by Egg Farmers of Ontario, that have been the signature of Champions for over 20 years.
“Our goal is to be positive and proactive in a trying environment, by rewarding the players and teams who deservedly made it that far through the highly-competitive Playdowns,” said Ian Taylor, OMHA Executive Director.
“It’s a simple gesture, but hopefully a meaningful one as well.”
Among the Co-Champions are the Atom A Innisfil Winterhawks who were set to face off against the Riverside Rangers; the Minor Bantam AA and Bantam A Barrie Jr. Colts (facing the Milton Winterhawks and Centre Wellington Fusion, respectively); Minor Midget A Orillia Terriers facing the Welland Tigers, and Midget A Orillia Terriers, who were facing the Woolwich Wildcats.
The Midget AA Newmarket Redmen and their opponents, Guelph Jr. Gryphons, were also on the list.
The complete list is posted on the OMHA website.
