The Huntsville Bantam AE Thermo-Seal Otters hockey team has defeated the Bracebridge Bears in the Muskoka-Parry Sound (MPS) semifinals playoff series.

The Otters eked out a 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon to take the series three games to none. The contest was not decided until the game’s last minute. The win qualifies the Otters to play the North Muskoka Lightning for the MPS championship.

The Bears opened the scoring on the game’s first shift. A broken play from the opening face off resulted in the puck getting behind Huntsville goaltender Trevor Roffey after 11 seconds had elapsed. After that Roffey was flawless, and the Otters carried the play for the rest of the period.

They could not, however, put one by the Bear’s netminder, and ended the period down 1-0.

Huntsville centre Brendan Krahn evened the score on a shorthanded effort to open the second period, assisted by Tyler Van Horne. Both teams traded chances for the rest of the game.

With only 21.3 seconds remaining, and overtime looming, Ethan Ward scored the series winner with a blast from the point. He was fed the shot by Krahn and Tyler Ralph.

Bracebridge pulled their goalie but could not mount a scoring chance. The Otters won 2-1.

Rose Evans, mother of defenceman Brent Evans, expected the team to emerge victorious.

“I just knew our kids would find a way,” she said. “They’ve worked so hard all year and improved so much, I was sure they’d win. And look what happened - I was right!”

With an MPS semifinal victory behind them, the Bantam AEs are off to test their mettle against some of the province’s best teams in a St. Catharines tournament next weekend.

They also expect to play the North Muskoka Lightening squad for the MPS championship over the next two weeks.