“It was a team that refused to lose” remembers John Botter, the coach of the Guelph AMF Pee Wees. The team ended a 32-year drought for the Guelph Minor Hockey Association when it defeated Niagara Falls 3-2 to win their best-of-five Ontario Minor Hockey Association final in three straight games.
Cameron Campbell was the scoring hero in that final contest with a pair of goals, including the winner at the 12-minute mark. Goaltender Steve Vivian then slammed the door the rest of the way.
This group of 12-year-olds was very talented and they could turn it on and off like a switch, reflected Botter.
They proved that in game one of their series against the heavily favoured Niagara Falls team when they fell behind 6-2 only to roar back and win the game.
One of the team leaders was defenseman Larry Shaw who went on to play as an underage with the Guelph Platers, before being drafted by the Peterborough Petes. He was eventually named their captain.
The other thing that made this team so great, said Botter, was the fact that parents were so good. Everyone pitched in and made it work.
Inducted into the Guelph Sports Hall of Game June 2, 1999
