The Ottawa Capitals, despite finishing first in Ontario, thanks to winning two of the last three elite championships they competed for on the Tour, had an aura of underdog status heading into the Provincials.

The Capitals are a team that lost only two games all season, and with their 617 combined points for, not to mention only 320 against, they had to wonder what it was going to take to get a little respect from their peers.

Aside from their narrow victory over the Chargers in round-robin play, the Capitals steamrolled their way through Trillium Cup opponents to make a fourth consecutive elite championship appearance. There they met their rivals, the Kitchener Gaels, the team they’ve faced in each AA championship game previous.

These two teams actually finished the season tied for points, with records so close it took a single point in a five game tie breaker to decide who would finish on top.

Unsurprisingly, the Capitals and Gaels battled to another close contest that wouldn’t be truly decided until the last few minutes. While the Gaels threatened with a late score, the Capitals, who enjoyed a two score lead for much of the game, controlled the ball in the end to not only win their third elite title of season, but also earntheir first elite Provincial championship.

Congratulations Capitals, you now advance to the national stage as the best team in Ontario, good luck at the Tournament Of Champions!

Quarter-Finals

Ott capitals 40 vs Hamilton Dolphins 6

Kitchener Gaels 34 vs Scar Steelers 33

Hamilton Piranhas 25 vs Ott Seminoles 19

Toronto Trojans 21 vs Burl Spartans 20

Semi-Finals

Ott Capitals 39 vs Toronto Trojans 24

Kitch Gaels 29 vs Hamilton Piranhas 7

Finals

Ott Capitals vs Kitchener Gaels 0

When the Hamilton Dolphins came from behind to defeat the Toronto Trojans at the Unionville stop to win the A championship, there was plenty of disrespecting chatter with “luck” describing that win.

This negativity seemed to inspire the Dolphins, as they would repeat their previous efforts at the Trillium Cup, in even more impressive fashion.
Sporting a 2 and 2 record heading into semi-final play-offs, the Dolphins squared off against the defending Ontario and Canadian elite champion Burlington Spartans.

While the Spartans haven’t had a banner year by their standards, they play their best ball when it counts, however, dropping to the A side may have weakened their will, which the Dolphins gladly exploited in their 25 to 7 upset victory.

Carrying that momentum into the finals, the Dolphins faced and defeated the 2009 Ontario A finalist Ottawa Seminoles with a decisive 27 to 18 result. With this win, the Dolphins captured their second straight title, also earning their first Ontario championship. Congratulations on your excellent finish Dolphins, “haters gonna hate” :)

Semi-Finals

Hamilton Dolphins 25 vs Burl Spartans 7

Ott Seminoles 22 vs Scar Steelers 21

Finals

Hamilton Dolphins 27 vs Ott Seminoles 18

Before their one sided loss to the Toronto Trojans in preliminary play, and just like the start to their Trillium season, the Hamilton Chargers showed plenty of promise to open the Trillium Cup. While they were 0 and 2 in round-robin contests, they only lost by a single point to the Mississauga Enforcers before giving the number one ranked, and eventual elite champion Ottawa Capitals, their toughest test of the tournament, forcing them to mount a come from behind victory.

The Chargers cashed in on their early promise through elimination games, finally emerging on the positive end of additional close contests. Their quarter and semi-final matches were almost within converted touchdown, with their championship contest being another result decided by a single point.

The Chargers avenged their earlier Enforcers defeat with a 21 to 20 decision to enjoy their first championship appearance with a Trillium Cup title, congratulations guys!

Quarter-Finals

Hamilton Chargers 23 vs T.O. Dirrty Birdz 13

Miss Rebels 26 vs Ottawa Spartans 6

Miss Enforcers 31 vs Kingston Vikings 30

Ott Dodd’s Construction 14 vs T.O. X-Men 6

Semi-Finals

Miss Enforcers 19 vs Miss Rebels 12

Ham Chargers 20 vs Dodd’s Construction 12

Finals

Ham Chargers 19 vs Miss Enforcers 18

The Ottawa Underdogs finished their Tour season with consecutive titles, giving them plenty of positive momentum heading into the Ontario championships. A nasty highway accident caused a traffic jam for miles, leaving the Underdogs with only five players to start their Trillium Cup with. In a great showing of support, veteran referee best known as “Fuzzy” put on a U-Dog jersey to help the boys out, giving them at least a partial chance at competing in their first game.

While the U-Dogs had some excuse for their first loss, with a full squad for the second game, there was no justification for their second loss to the Mississauga Gridiron, other than the obvious fact that the Gridiron was the better team that day.

Two straight losses meant B division for the Underdogs, where things picked up for them. Finding their offense, the Underdogs strung together three one-sided victories, on paper, to earn their third consecutive title, including their second straight Ontario championship, congratulations guys!

Quarter-Finals

T.O. Hurricanes 38 vs Ham Hogz 12

Ott Underdogs 31 vs Scar Raiders 12

Ott Knights 21 vs Ottawa 360’s 13

S.O. Cobras 21 vs Miss Gridiron 15

Semi-Finals

T.O. Hurricanes 6 vs Ott Knights 0

Ottawa Underdogs 26 vs S.O. Cobras 8

Finals

Ottawa Underdogs 30 vs T.O. Hurricanes 7

For the previous two years, Toronto’s Landell Lightning has had strong finishes to their seasons, earning Ontario and national championships at the tier two level. For an up and coming team, those types of results are building blocks for future prominence, however, not all teams can capitalize on the experience, as impatient players at the elite level often jump ship to find the winning mix elsewhere.

The Lightning ladies have been a loyal legion since they formed a few years ago, so rather than losing talent, the Lightning have incrementally added it, allowing them to evolve towards better moments, which we saw at this years’ Trillium Cup.

Before those “better moments” could take take hold, the Lightning opened their Trillium Cup with an 0 and 2 round-robin start, including a 35 to 6 shellacking by the defending champion Ottawa Devils. Playing like those results never occurred, the Lightning defeated the 2009 Ontario finalist, Toronto Rebels, 21 to 20 in preliminary play to advance to the semi-finals, where they would face the Devils once again.

Another decisive decision ensued, however, the Lightning would be on the positive end of the results this time, upsetting the former champions with that 24 to 15 score.

The Lightning made history in that game, as not only did they defeat the Devils for the first time in club history, they would advance to the elite championships for the first time as well.

Waiting for them in the finals were the Toronto Wolverines, a team that made history themselves earlier in the season, defeating the Devils for the first time, also earning their first elite title in that victory.

Making the 2010 Trillium Cup championship extra special was the fact that the Wolverines and Lightning played for the tier two Ontario title last season, a game which saw the Wolverines earn a 25 to 13 decision.

This year’s title match up was far closer than their result last season, as the game ended in a 12 to 12 tie, leaving us needing overtime converts to decide the outcome. The Lighting stopped the Wolverines from scoring a single point, and with two successful attempt themselves, the Lightning would make history a third time, earning their first elite championship to finish their Trillium Tour as Ontario’s champions.

Congratulations on your excellent finish ladies, your hard work, dedication and loyalty to each other has finally paid off!

Semi-Finals

Landell Lightning 24 vs Ottawa Devils 15

Toronto Wolverines 8 vs Toronto Rockets 6

Finals

Landell Lightning 15 vs Toronto Wolverines 12

Through round-robin and preliminary play, the Toronto Rebels accumulated a 1 and 2 record. While that plus/minus was a negative result, the Rebels were only defeated by a single point in each of those contests, and their opponents were the two teams that eventually competed for the elite title.

Continuing their strong play in the A division, the Rebels eliminated the Scarborough Lady Raiders, who were riding the positive wave of a three game winning streak heading into their match-up.

The Rebels advanced to meet the Toronto Shock in the finals, a squad equally familiar with the pressures a major tournament comes packaged with. Not surprisingly, the Rebels and Shock played to a very close result, a game which became a defensive chess match. A single touchdown was the difference in the end, and the Rebels veteran offense was the group of ladies responsible for it. While this was a slight step back from their elite finalist finish last season, the Rebels still had to be happy with their over-all performance, as no more than two points separated them from the top.

Congratulations on your title Rebels, and you on-field showing, you have much to be proud of!

Semi-Finals

Toronto Rebels 21 vs Scar Lady Raiders 14

Toronto Shock 19 vs Ottawa Jets 0

Finals

Toronto Rebels 12 vs Toronto Shock 8

The London Rebels were sent home early in almost every tournament they competed in this year. Unionville, the final stop on the Tour, saw the Rebels improve to compete for their first championship. Although they lost that match up, it was a hard fought 14 to 7 loss to the Scarborough Lady Raiders, a tough opponent for any team.

Building on that momentum, the Rebels opened their Trillium Cup with a respectable 2 and 1 round-robin showing, allowing them to by-pass preliminary play and advance to the BB semi-finals.

The Rebels capitalized on the rest to earn consecutive victories over talented Ottawa squads to not only compete for their second straight championship contest, but also earn their first title of the season. Congratulations on your strong finish Rebels, as well as your Trillium Cup trophy!

Prelims

Scar Mavericks 18 vs T.O. Assassins 12

Ottawa Mavericks 6 vs Toronto Jaguars 0

Semi-Finals

London Rebels 19 vs Ott Mavericks 0

Ottawa Fury 27 vs Scar Raiders 0

Finals

London Rebels 13 vs Ottawa Fury 1

The Toronto Lancers made their championship-game return at the Trillium Cup. Their last appearance in the finals was way back at the Kingston stop, where they won the DD title.

At the Provincials this year, the Lancers had to face a very game Hamilton Boilermakers, the new team on the block who had improved throughout the season, finally earning their first title at the Unionville Invitational last month.

Despite both team showcasing offensive prowess during Trillium Cup play-offs, and with the Boilermakers carrying a greater amount of momentum into the finals, the Lancers would earn a decisive 25 to 13 victory to earn their second title of the year. Congratulations on your Ontario championship Lancers!

Prelims

Miss Punisher 24 vs Oshawa K. Beeezzz 14

T.O. Lancers 27 vs Burl Mandingos 14

Semi-Finals

Ham Boilermakers 31 vs Miss Punishers 28

Toronto Lancers 20 vs Burl Broncos 13

Finals

Toronto Lancers 25 vs Ham Boilermakers 13