Golden Eagles Win Semfinal, Play For Glory on Monday at 2:30pm
(Editors Note - The Syenham High School Golden Eagles beat LAsalle 4-2 on Thursday, (February 26) at the Frontenac Arena in the first semi-final. The Golden Eagles will now take on Holy Cross in the championship game on Monday at the Inivista-Desjardin rink in Kingston at 2:30pm on Monday, (March 2). Holy Cross crushed St Marie Rivier 8-0 in the other semi-final. Holy Cross finished second in the regular season, behind undefeated Sydenham, with a 7-2 record. Both of Holy Cross' losses came early in the season. The Golden Eagles beat them 5-0 on December 4, and they lost to Napanee DS 4-3 on December 8)
The Sydenham Golden Eagles Boys Varsity Boys Hockey Team had a tough start to their 2025 campaign, losing their first two games. But they responded well after that, takin g all but one of the games for the rest of the season before sweeping to playoff win, and the first KASSAA hockey championship for Sydenham High School since the onset of hockey 32 years earlier.
Twelve of the seventeen players on that 2025 team returned for 2026, and this year’s team has followed up by going undefeated throughout the regular season, and winning the first playoff game, the quarterfinal, on February 19, over Regiopolis by a 5-1 score.
“We are now 19-1 in our last 20 games - a truly impressive run,” said Coach Shane Cook.
But the undefeated season has not been stress-free, particularly over the last couple of games, according to Cook.
“Although we beat Regi in our quarter-final game yesterday 5-1, our nerves were tested. We were down 1-0 until 3-4 minutes into the second period when Colton Dee scored to open the flood gates after a fantastic 2-1 stop coming our way by Josh Baldwin,” said Cook.
And the final game of the regular season, against Lasalle was a very close contest.
The was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, as well as at the end of the 3 on 3 overtime, and again after a 3-man shoot out,” said Cook. “ It wasn't until our 7th shooter, Mason Norgaard, broke the tie and our goalie Reade Pearce made a spectacular save that we finally clinched the victory and sealed the perfect season. “
That win locked up 1st place overall for the 9-0 Golden Eagles, with the next best team, Holy Cross, two games behind at 7-2. That earned Sydenham two home play-off games at the Frontenac Community Arena for the first time ever in the history of the school.
“This year's team is even better than last year's and certainly the best team I’ve ever coached here at the Sydenham High school,” Cook added. “They are truly a special group and my assistant coach, Tim Hillis, and I believe that they are capable of achieving even more than last year's team. Not only are we hoping to repeat as KASSAA champions again this year, but we also have our sights set on two other "firsts" that have never been done here at SHS - winning the eastern Ontario (EOSSAA) and an Ontario (OFSAA) championships.
“We truly believe this team is that good!”
By the time this paper comes out, The Golden Eagles will have played their semi-final game at the Frontenac Arena against Lasalle, who no doubt were hoping to avenge that shootout loss in the regular season.
If the Golden Eagles have survived that challenge, they will progress to the final, which takes place on March 2 and 2:30 pm at the Invista Centre in Kingston. The other finalist will be the winner of the semi-final between Saint Marie Riviere (5-3-1- 11 points) and Frontenac SS (5-2-2 - 12 points)
(Note - the semifinal game between SHS and Lasalle was postpined until today, Thursday, at 2pm, at the Frontenac Arena. We wil post the results aftr the game)
The Sydenham Golden Eagles Boys Varsity Boys Hockey Team had a tough start to their 2025 campaign, losing their first two games. But they responded well after that, takin g all but one of the games for the rest of the season before sweeping to playoff win, and the first KASSAA hockey championship for Sydenham High School since the onset of hockey 32 years earlier.
Twelve of the seventeen players on that 2025 team returned for 2026, and this year’s team has followed up by going undefeated throughout the regular season, and winning the first playoff game, the quarterfinal, on February 19, over Regiopolis by a 5-1 score.
“We are now 19-1 in our last 20 games - a truly impressive run,” said Coach Shane Cook.
But the undefeated season has not been stress-free, particularly over the last couple of games, according to Cook.
“Although we beat Regi in our quarter-final game yesterday 5-1, our nerves were tested. We were down 1-0 until 3-4 minutes into the second period when Colton Dee scored to open the flood gates after a fantastic 2-1 stop coming our way by Josh Baldwin,” said Cook.
And the final game of the regular season, against Lasalle was a very close contest.
The was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, as well as at the end of the 3 on 3 overtime, and again after a 3-man shoot out,” said Cook. “ It wasn't until our 7th shooter, Mason Norgaard, broke the tie and our goalie Reade Pearce made a spectacular save that we finally clinched the victory and sealed the perfect season. “
That win locked up 1st place overall for the 9-0 Golden Eagles, with the next best team, Holy Cross, two games behind at 7-2. That earned Sydenham two home play-off games at the Frontenac Community Arena for the first time ever in the history of the school.
“This year's team is even better than last year's and certainly the best team I’ve ever coached here at the Sydenham High school,” Cook added. “They are truly a special group and my assistant coach, Tim Hillis, and I believe that they are capable of achieving even more than last year's team. Not only are we hoping to repeat as KASSAA champions again this year, but we also have our sights set on two other "firsts" that have never been done here at SHS - winning the eastern Ontario (EOSSAA) and an Ontario (OFSAA) championships.
“We truly believe this team is that good!”
If the Golden Eagles won today, they will progress to the final, which takes place on March 2 and 2:30 pm at the Invista Centre in Kingston. The other finalist will be the winner of the semi-final between Saint Marie Riviere (5-3-1- 11 points) and Frontenac SS (5-2-2 - 12 points)
