If some teams are built over a matter of years to eventually compete at a provincial level, such clearly wasn't the case with the 2007-08 Walden Red Devil Bantams. The youngsters, who ranged from ages 13 to 15 as OHF (Ontario Hockey Federation) tournament play began earlier this month in Temiskaming Shores, were much more of a "tossed together" group.

In fact, the seventeen player roster that head coach Dean Lanthier assembled back in September represented players who had competed with a total of ten different teams one year ago. But as a first place finish in Nickel District Major Bantam league play and a trip to the all-Ontario championships will quickly attest, this collective of talent managed to come together at just the right time.

Lanthier fully understood the challenge he faced right from the get-go. In fact, he turned to a helpful old trick, having players who had played together double interspaced throughout the dressing room early in the season, to help build a cohesive unit despite a lack of familiarity between teammates.

"After a few weeks, with the kids getting to know each other, it really wasn't necessary any more", noted Lanthier. So much for the social challenge - now to the task of getting the entire roster on the same page when it came to the on-ice product. Blessed with a roster that features a number of fair-sized young athletes, Lanthier needed to provide some added direction to his troops, especially early on.

"Physically, we have some young me on this team...and we took a lot of penalties early in the year", admits the long-time Walden Minor Hockey coach. But with a steadfast belief that undisciplined penalties came at a price (missing shifts), the coaching staff gradually worked the team size to their advantage.

Still a little work to be done, however, as Lanthier readily concedes. "We really focus on making sure all skaters are in position to support the puck carrier - we're still working on it", he suggests prior to practice just one week before provincials.

With no real bonafide super star on the team, Lanthier relies heavily on a balanced lineup, including sparkplug Brett Dubois, a product of the Espanola Minor Hockey system. Local hockey fans who go back as far as I do will remember the playing days of Brett's father, Shawn Dubois, an alumni of the NOJHL who played with the Sudbury Cubs back in the late 1980s.

Not surprisingly, the pair share a marked similarity in hockey style. "I like to hit, I like to skate" said the younger Dubois, with Brett having seen time both as a defenseman and forward this year. In chatting with the youngster, it's clear that the move from Espanola to Walden this season has been an enjoyable one.

"This year has definately been more serious" noted Dubois, who has played a year ahead of his age group for as long as he could remember. Now in his element with no less than a dozen other teammates who share 1993 birthdates, Dubois looked forward to his first OHF championship. "I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of new and different teams."

Despite the hurdles that stood along the way, things managed to gel nicely for the Devils this year. The team topped the NDMHL Major Bantam standings with a record of 20-4-4, finishing just two points ahead of the Valley East Rebels and five up on the Northwood Pharmacy Minor Bantam AAA Wolves.

At the NOHA playdowns in early March, Walden escaped unscathed through pool play, posting a 3-0 mark and then picked up a huge semi-final win, doubling the Valley East crew 4-2. With Temiskaming Shores easily advancing through the remaining semi-final (7-0 over Rayside-Balfour) and the Shores crew playing host to the 2008 Bantam A OHF championships, the Red Devils were assured a berth in the all-Ontario tournament, regardless of the outcome of the NOHA final.

"We battled the Valley all year long and we knew the New Liskeard kids were going to be tough", acknowledged Lanthier as Temiskaming Shores took Gold in Sturgeon Falls, downing the Devils 6-3. Heading north for the OHF event last weekend, the dedicated coach knew pretty much what lie ahead for his troops.

"We definately want to play on Sunday in a semi-final game...four of the five teams competing advance", said Lanthier. "But there isn't going to be an easy game." And he was right. Walden opened play with a 6-3 loss to the Stouffville Clippers but bounced back with a huge 3-3 draw with the host Temiskaming Shores Puckhounds.

The tie appeared to provide a lift as the Devils posted back to back wins on Saturday, dumping the Cambridge Hawks 5-2 and bettering the Vaughan Panthers 4-1. Their preliminary round record of 2-1-1 left the team sitting third, just one point back of both Temiskaming Shores and Stoufville who finished with identical 2-0-2 marks.

Unfortunately, the tie-breaker favoured the Puckhounds and Walden would be forced to face a Stouffville team that just seemed to have their number. The Clippers thumped Walden 9-2 but would have to eventually settle for Silver, suffering a 3-0 shutout at the hands of the Temiskaming lads.

In the end, Lanthier is not surprised by the success of the 2007-08 Walden Bantams. "Expectations were fairly high, right from the time the team was picked." And they were expectations the players would live up to.

The roster for the 2007-08 Walden Red Devil Bantams includes goaltenders Garrett Kosowan and Patrick Fournier, defensemen Jake Punkari, Anthony Guido, Tyler Rydall, Justin Massicotte, Darren Nicholson and Austin Rysdale as well as forwards Patrick Lepage, Dylan Lanthier, Andrew Pisaric, Brett Dubois, Tanner Remillard, Bryan Mailloux, Doug Friesen, Lukas Arnold and Drew Strange.

Joining (Dean) Lanthier on staff with the team were assistant coaches Marty Punkari and Dave Rysdale, trainer Rob Lepage and manager Dave Pisaric.