The Minto 81’s are back in action on Friday, April 25, 2025 at the Harry Howell Arena in Flamborough, looking to punch their ticket to the 2025 Allan Cup Challenge championship game.
Standing in their way are the host Wentworth Gryphins, a squad Minto edged 3-2 earlier in the tournament. After going undefeated to win Division Two, Minto earned a direct berth into the Friday night semifinal. They’ll now face a red-hot Gryphins club that eliminated the defending champion Dundas Real McCoys 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
"We’re expecting their best tonight," said Minto Head Coach Ryan Fisk in an interview ahead of the game. "Wentworth’s a deep team. They’ve got guys who can score, experience, and the home crowd behind them."
The last time these two teams met was on April 22, with a first-place semifinal berth on the line. Wentworth opened the scoring late in the first period, but former Listowel Cyclones forward Chayse Herrfort sealed the win for the 81’s, scoring the go-ahead goal with under five minutes to play. "We proved to ourselves that we can skate with them, we can play with them," said Fisk. "They’re highly skilled from top to bottom, but I think our guys are excited for the challenge."
The 81’s have already made history at this year’s tournament. With their 8-5 win over the St. John’s Rooftech Capitals on opening night, Minto became the first Ontario Senior AA men’s team to win a game at an Allan Cup tournament.
Much of the offensive firepower has come from Garrett Meurs, who exploded for four goals in that debut game.
"Anytime you can get Garrett Meurs in your lineup, you know he’s going to make a difference," said Fisk. "He just loves the game, plays it the right way, and fits in great with the group."
Wentworth, meanwhile, enters the semifinal with momentum after a dominant win over Dundas. The Gryphins overwhelmed the Real McCoys with a 47-shot barrage, getting goals from six different players. The Gryphins are looking to ride the energy of their home crowd as they push for a spot in Saturday’s 3:00 p.m. championship final. But Minto believes they’ve got the tools to win again. "It’s good for our league to show we can compete with these teams," said Fisk. "Hopefully it keeps more players wanting to come back to our league to play."
Friday’s semifinal between Minto and Wentworth is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with the winner moving on to face either the Clarenville Ford Caribous or the St. John’s Capitals in the Allan Cup Challenge final.