Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
The Northumberland Stars shined as the top team in the Greater Metro Jr. A Hockey League this season.
First they finished atop the regular season standings with 37 wins and just five losses, including one in overtime, for 75 points and then went on a stellar playoff run that culminated with winning their first league championship Saturday night at the Keeler Centre in Colborne.
Hosting Game 5 of the best-of-seven, the Stars tallied three straight goals early in the contest and went on to defeat the visiting Wasaga River Dragons 5-3 to capture the Russell Cup.
“It’s probably the best group I’ve ever been a part of, everyone’s so tight, it’s unreal,” said Stars’ captain Zennon Edwards. “We just showed up the entire year and got it done.”
William Shmyr knows what a great feeling it is. He’s from Courtice and played for the Clarington Toros until the under-18 level before joining Northumberland three seasons ago.
Success was hard to come by during his rookie season with the club winning just 13 games, but Shmyr credits head coach and general manager Alex McConnell for the team’s progression during his tenure.
“Alex has built a great program here…on the ice, but off the ice as well. Best group of guys I’ve ever been a part of as a team and the guys he brings in are here to work and here to win. I wouldn’t rather play anywhere else.”
Tristan Morin previously played four seasons for his hometown Cornwall Colts of the Central Canada Hockey League at the junior A level. He had an NCAA Division 3 hockey opportunity lined up in the United States, though it wasn’t a full scholarship and he opted to change course and join the Stars.
“I’ve never been part of a championship. This is a surreal feeling and I’m honoured I made the choice to come out to Northumberland and join these guys and I’m glad we got it done this year.
Morin has enjoyed living and playing in Colborne.
“We’re just happy we got it done in front of the fans here at home,” he said.
The Stars have played in Colborne for a decade now and McConnell has been at the helm since 2022 – even becoming part-owner in 2025 – building toward a GMHL championship.
“It feels pretty good, a long time coming,” he said. “It didn’t come without its bumps and bruises so to get to this point and get it done with this group, there’s no better feeling.”
McConnell said last season was a big building block and helped recruit some key players, but he also heaped a lot of praise on Chris Atanas who joined the club as associate coach and assistant GM.
McConnell also credited the commitment of all staff members.
“It took everybody, but everybody pulled the line and did their part and that’s why we’re here.”
Northumberland won the first two games of the final before losing Game 3 in Wasaga on Tuesday night.
They rebounded with a convincing 6-1 win Friday night, also in Wasaga, before the series-clinching win Saturday.
“I think we finished the year with 57 games played and we never lost two in a row,” McConnell said. “This group, every lesson was learned, you take your licks when they happen and you just keep moving forward.”
It’s a stark contrast now for McConnell as he reflects on the team’s situation when he was hired.
“When I first got here there was a ton of great guys and a lot of good people, but we were lacking real guys that wanted to be hockey players and that had a desire to play beyond here,” he said, noting the current lineup features standouts like Miron, Edwards, Dawson Hettiarachchi, Ryan Boon and Brayden Bowen. “These guys are premier players in this league, they’ve been premier players in other leagues and our depth, our top-end guys, just the commitment overall to doing this is exactly why we’re here.”
Edwards is from Whitby and previously played at the junior A level in four Ontario Junior Hockey League seasons for the Stouffville Spirit, Aurora Tigers, Pickering Panthers and Wellington Dukes. He joined the Stars and some familiar former teammates like Hettiarachchi and Nolan Connolly from his minor hockey days while also knowing the calibre of play continues to improve in the GMHL.
He credited the “great opponent” from Wasaga in Northumberland’s final series, but believes his team’s bond in addition to skill helped make the difference in the outcome.
“Our team’s just too close of a group,” Edwards said. “Everyone wants to win it just as bad for the next guy.”
Edwards appreciated the community connection while playing at the Keeler Centre.
“Just the barn tonight, it’s packed to the brim. They love us, they’ve got noise makers, we love them to no end. It’s unbelievable, it just makes a huge difference. There’s 20 kids high-fiving us every time after each period. It just makes you want to win it for them even more. There’s nothing like hoisting that Cup for them.”
RUSSELL CUP
Friday, March 20
Northumberland 7 Wasaga 6
Saturday, March 21
Northumberland 3 Wasaga 1
Tuesday, March 24
Wasaga 6 Northumberland 4
Friday, March 27
Northumberland 6 Wasaga 1
Saturday, March 28
Northumberland 5 Wasaga 3
