By Mac Christie, Times-Advocate Staff

ST. CLEMENTS – The South Huron Sabres Bantam Rep team swept their way to the OMHA Finals on the weekend.

South Huron defeated Twin Centre 6-0 in St. Clements March 2 to take the OMHA Semifinal series three games to none.

Sabres coach Steve Riddell said the team played phenomenally during the series.

“They gave us some pretty hard shifts early on,” he said of Game Three, “but we got on the board early and just kept pushing at them.

“We had control of the game early on through the first period through the rest of the game.”

Connor Drager, David Norris, Nick Overholt, Nate McDonald, Jacob Hrudka and Justin McCarter scored for the Sabres, while Mitch Riddell recorded the shutout.

In Game Two Feb. 27 on home ice the Sabres jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period with a goal by Cam Schram, but Twin Centre tied it up in the second.

After a scoreless third, the Sabres were able to put the game away in overtime when Brad Regier fed Overholt for the winner.

“Brad Regier made a heck of a pass to Nick Overholt to set him free,” Riddell said of the winner. “Nick had one defenceman to beat, got around him and shelled it over the goalie’s shoulder.”

South Huron also won Game One Feb. 26 in Wellesley by a 6-0 score, a game Riddell said the Sabres dominated in the first and third periods.

“They gave us a lot in the second and we held on and were able to regroup at the flood,” Riddell said. “We came out and took control of the game again in the third.”

McCarter paced the Sabres attack in Game One, recording a hat trick, while Regier, Norris and Avery Timmermans also found the back of the net for South Huron.

Mitch Riddell recorded the shutout.

The Sabres will now face the Newcastle Stars in the OMHA Finals. Newcastle swept a team from Mount Forest in their semifinal by a combined score of 28-8.

While Riddell said South Huron hasn’t seen Newcastle this year, he said they’ve had a fantastic season.

“I expect they’re going to be a very strong team,” he said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it goes five or six games.”

Riddell noted the Sabres have played two teams that faced Newcastle this season, Mount Forest, who the Sabres beat 12-1 earlier in the year and Bancroft, who topped the Sabres in overtime at the International Silver Stick.

Bancroft also beat Newcastle 3-1 during the Regional Silver Stick.

“I think we’re going to have good, even teams,” Riddell said of the final. “It’ll be a good series.

“We’re looking forward to it.”