THE PATH TO THE 2025 ALLAN CUP

The road is freshly paved but not well travelled and the last stop after 117 years is the 2025 Allan Cup. Hockey on, senior style.

by Dan Carle

Cambridge, ON – With three teams, the Allan Cup Hockey League’s latest season is underway.

Donated in 1908 by Montagu Allan, the Dundas Real McCoys are seeking a third straight Allan Cup – Canadian senior men’s AAA championship – but must first get through a compact league schedule of the same name.

“Winning never gets old,” said Dundas general manager and owner Don Robertson, with 40 years on his senior hockey odometer and spot on the bench last April for the Real McCoys latest Allan Cup, marking the first back-to-back champion since the Warroad Lakers of Minnesota won three-straight in the 1990s.

Experience fosters perspective.

“Sometimes the celebration isn’t as large as the disappointment if you are not successful,” said Robertson. “We’re putting ourselves in a position to have a chance.”

The Real McCoys, once more, are fine tuned.

Named after a local foundry, the team returns ACH coach of the year Ron Bernacci and goaltenders Mike Mole, the 2022-23 Allan Cup MVP, and Ryan de Melo, the 2023-24 MVP who played brilliantly after Mole hurt his knee. Captain Simon Mangos, 44, an ex-minor pro defenceman, is back on the Dundas blueline for a steadying 11^th season.

“It’s a competitive environment and still fun for me to play,” said Mangos, an engineer who helps run a consumer packaging company off the ice, and craves something more than beer league competition between whistles.

“To win it back-to-back-to-back, that is my goal.”

The Stoney Creek Tigers were one win away from facing Dundas in 2024 Allan Cup final. Co-owners Daniel Svedin and Chris Knighton do not have to remind the team.

“Ninety per cent are returning,” said Svedin. “Everybody had such a blast last year.”

The starter in goal for last season’s Robertson Cup champion, Svedin, 42, a father of three, is transitioning to a life without pads and weekly games.

“I have two new goalkeepers – I think it is more of a handover season,” said Svedin.

“This is a good segue to get out of playing and more into the management side.

“I think we have drawn attention to the great culture we’re fostering. Hype us up and get a reputation like the Real McCoys,” said Svedin, who was born in Gavle, Sweden.

Passionate ownership and understanding leadership are behind the Wentworth Gryphins, Allan Cup Hockey’s third league entry.

“I have seen it all in hockey,” said Evan McGrath, a retired ex-pro currently training hockey players on the side when he’s not being a financial planner, father or trying to get the Gryphins formula for success just right.

“Hockey operations, recruitment, how to make the experience best for the players – the little things that make players happy,” said McGrath, who along with Nathan Gatt, Grant Zilloto and team owner Rod Millard, like their chances.

The Gryphins will host the six-team 2025 Allan Cup Challenge league championship April 20 – 26, 2025 at the Harry Howell Arena in West Flamborough.

“Ninety per cent of our players have played pro hockey,” said McGrath. “We are very positive and optimistic about what we have built.”

The elephant on the ice is there are just three Allan Cup teams this season.

“Three teams sucks, to be honest,” said Robertson, who added expansion plans are on-going. This season there will be a home-and-home series with AA teams from the Ontario Elite Hockey League.

“A good goal would be to have six teams within a 45-minute drive of Hamilton,” said Robertson. “I am pretty confident that we’ll end up with five.”

For the moment, four owners ice three teams of accomplished skaters with competitive tendencies in hopes of winning games and being a great host.

It’s that time of year.

About the Ontario Hockey Association

The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) was founded on November 27, 1890, and is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior hockey in the Province of Ontario.  The OHA is a Member Partner of the Ontario Hockey Federation which is one of thirteen Provincial and Regional Branches of Hockey Canada. 

It is comprised of three Junior hockey leagues and two Senior hockey leagues: Junior A – Ontario Junior Hockey League; Junior B – Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League; Junior C – Provincial Junior Hockey League, Senior  – Allan Cup Hockey (AAA) and Ontario Elite Hockey League (AA). For the 2023-24 season, these five leagues encompass 125 teams.

The objectives of the OHA are to foster and encourage the sport of amateur hockey, to conduct competition in the various categories established, to determine teams for entry into the inter-branch competitions that may be provided by Hockey Canada, and to provide for the affiliation of other hockey organizations.

The OHA provides administrative resources, coordinates programs, services and events for hockey participants and provides support to various Development Programs for coaches, officials, trainers and players, Safety and Risk Management Issues and offers resources for Harassment and Abuse education.

                                                     -30-

For more information or to set up an interview, please contact:

Chris McCleary

General Manager, Operations & Marketing                  

Ontario Hockey Association                            

[email protected]