In a hard-driving game that didn't open up until the third period, #17 Ben Chick of the SouthEnd Shifters scored at 11:34 of the first period, assisted by #32 David Maysenhoelder and #10 Tommy Pizzuto. Richmond Royals’ #52, Kory Hammel, tied the game at 3:32 on a power play goal, assisted by #27, Darren Denyes. The Royals had the upper hand in the first period, but were frustrated often by the excellent goal-tending of the Shifters Ben Lynn, who was kept busy through much of the game as the Shifters sought to maintain their regular-season penalty record, second only in penalty minutes to the Clarence Senators.

In the second period, the Shifters opened a two-goal lead on a power-play goal at 7:03, again by Ben Chick, assisted by #9, Robbie Woods and a goal by #3, Sean Brady, assisted by #12, Marton Hamory, at 5:40.

Despite sustained pressure by the Shifters, goalie Joel Knight of the Royals kept the game within reach, with the Royals cutting the lead to one on a goal in the last few seconds of the second period by #22, Graham Hill, assisted by #17, Quinn Murphy and #19, Brendan Mears.

Sean Brady combined with #7, Brendan Lowry, at 12:33 of the third to widen the Shifters lead to 4-2, followed by the clincher, again by Marton Hamory, assisted by Tommy Pizzuto and #18, Ryan Cook, with the game ending in regulation time, with a score of 5-2.

The game was characterized by a couple of perfectly-executed goals, some excellent passing and strong shooting, and a contact level that sets the Juvenile League apart from the excessive head-hunting that characterizes some hockey at one end of the spectrum, and the boring, under-challenging hockey seen in some non-contact hockey at the opposing end of the spectrum.

Finding the right tempo for the game, and reading the body-contact plateau of the teams on the ice is a tough job for the referee, and Bruce Gray met that challenge admirably.  Supported by his linesmen Hugh Lucas and Chris Messina, he allowed the teams to play an excellent game without interference nor any incidents.

Ken and Bryden Denyes had a year that few projected would end in the Richmond Royals playing in the Championship, and they are again to be commended for leading their team through the early frustrations that hockey can be, to the Championship where they and their team played a game that they deserved in every respect to be in.

This was a year that yielded the best that hockey at this level can give for the SouthEnd Shifters in winning the 417 Championship, an objective that the team had set their minds, skills and hopes on, and then went forward and achieved that goal. The other side of this achievement, so very tragic, is reflected in the passing of the Coach of the SouthEnd Shifters, Mark Lowry, just before the start of the season last October.  Mark was held in the very, very highest regard by his team, their parents and the community, far beyond, in fact, the modest hockey world here in Eastern Ontario.  In the face of this harsh reality, Don Adams stepped up from Assistant Coach to Coach, and Mark’s wife Jennifer forged on admirably as Team Manager, learning more than a few things about the other side of hockey when her players found themselves on the wrong side of the Rules, bringing her face to face with The League President....

Thank you, all of you, for an excellent season, in fact for an excellent decade of Juvenile hockey. This Championship, and particularly for Mark, Jennifer and Brendan, the SouthEnd Shifters achievement of their goal of 2006 Champions, provides both David and I with a very positive and enjoyable recollection of an excellent hockey season, but also an opportunity to pass on the torch of Juvenile administration to the next person or persons for next year.

Thank you, and enjoy your summer!

Robert Bales, personally and for David Bales