2008 Oakville Rangers to face Vaughan Kings in the 2024 U16 OHL Cup Finals

First off, let's give credit to where credit is due: the Vaughan Kings have been the top 2008-born team in Ontario since U14, winning each SilverStick tournament, their GTHL regular season and playoffs each year, the U14 OHL Cup, and the U15 OHF's. They were the #1 ranked team coming into the OHL Cup Finals for a reason: they were the best.

Vaughan was dominant in U14 - they lost only 1 game the whole season out of 63 games. In the U14 OHL Cup, Vaughan beat the OMHA Bronze Medalist Oakville Rangers 9-3, they'd beat the OMHA Gold Medalist Peterborough Petes 10-2 in the semi's, and they'd beat the OMHA Silver Medalist York Simcoe Express 8-1 in the finals. Pure domination.

In U15, the gap began to tighten - Vaughan would play Oakville twice, beating them with empty-netters for final scores of 3-1 and 4-2 - but no matter what, even with the gap tightening, they would still find a way to win major tournaments and titles that matter. Vaughan and Oakville would represent Ontario as the top 2 teams heading to Detroit to play in a NCAA Showcase with 4 of the top 6 USA teams (Little Caesars, Chicago Mission, etc.), and uncharacteristic of Vaughan, they did not have one game where they scored more than 3 goals - however, they went undefeated, allowing the least amount of goals against, and finishing as the top team there with Oakville having the 2nd best record. Winning is what they did.

Fast forward to this season, Oakville beat them 5-4 (OT) in the quarter finals of the Titans Early Bird Tournament, and Vaughan returned the favour in the first round robin game of this OHL Cup defeating Oakville 4-3 (OT).

Without a doubt, we are in for a tight one tomorrow at the Mattamy Center (old Maple Leaf Gardens). It seems fitting that these 2 teams are in the championship, as these 2 teams have made the least amount of roster changes since U14, compared to the other 4 Ontario teams who make up the Top 6 (Marlies, JRC, NYR, and Barrie) having changed so many players on their roster year after year.

Oakville has the most goals scored in the OHL Cup tournament to date, while Vaughan has the least amount of goals against - Oakville has the 2nd best PP% while Vaughan has the 3rd best PK% - something has to give!! We are in for a special game tomorrow as these 2 teams collide in the 2024 U16 OHL Cup Finals!!