The Brantford 99ers U16 AAA hockey team has earned a spot in a prestigious year-end provincial tournament after a successful playoff run in Brantford, Ontario. The team reached the finals of their league championship and secured a position in the OHL Cup, which brings together the top players in the province from March 30 to April 4, 2026.
The squad, part of the Brantford Minor Hockey Association, moved into the final round after a 7-3 victory against the Huron-Perth Lakers in the semifinal series. According to the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario, the team finished the regular season with a 20-7-3 record, placing them third overall in the standings.
Roman Vanacker led the team on the ice this season with 70 total points, including 30 goals, making him the second-highest scorer in the league. Other key players contributing to the success included forwards Emry Lowe and Carson Vukelich, while Ethan Zivanovich was the top scorer among the team’s defenders.
Head coach Rob Crowther stated that reaching the season-ending tournament in Toronto was the primary goal for the group this year. The team relied on a strong goaltending duo of Ryan Slama and Ryder Kowtaluk to maintain their winning record throughout the schedule.
Local sports coverage and game highlights for the team are provided by 519 Sports Online, a platform that follows athletes across the region. The team played a key championship series game at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre on March 22, 2026, as they continued their pursuit of a league title.
