James Woodcroft

James Woodcroft sure joined the Chiefs at the right time.

Making up for lost time -- having never won a playoff round in six previous years in Tecumseh -- the Windsor-area Jr. B club took all the gold this spring, capping a championship-rich season with the all-Ontario Sutherland Cup Saturday night in Elmira.

"Yeah, I was fortunate to come aboard when I did," 17-year-old Woodcroft told the Champion Tuesday afternoon, still basking in the glow of the title win. "It was great to win it all. It's hard to describe ... just a great feeling."

Tecumseh not only gave Essex County its first Sutherland Cup triumph in the 75-year history of the trophy, but did so in a minimum four games against the Sugar Kings -- with Woodcroft factoring into Saturday's 5-3 clincher with a first-period deposit.

He was officially credited with the game winner as well, though admits he didn't actually pop it in.

"Dan Reaume really scored, I just assisted. That first goal was mine, though. The defenceman coughed up the puck after I hit him and I put it (puck) under his glove." explained Woodcroft, who drew three assists in Tecumseh's 3-1 Sutherland Cup playdown campaign against the Sugar Kings and Thorold Blackhawks. "To take it (Sutherland Cup) with a sweep, I don't think there's too many teams that can say that."

A third or fourth-line centre for most of the season, the six-foot-one-inch, 175-pounder -- who saw four games with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires back in the fall -- didn't spend a whole lot of time in the spotlight this season. But according to head coach Jim Hunter, Woodcroft was an intricate part of what made the Chiefs so successful.

"Those third and fourth line guys are what can ruin a hockey team, but James never complained and had such a great attitude on and off the ice. He was one of the guys who really lightened up the dressing room. And every time he was called on to do something out there he'd come through."

Added Woodcroft, "I think I've always been a positive guy on any team I've been with, and I didn't get discouraged with my limited play. I just tried to give a solid effort every time I got out there."

Saturday's title win marked another turning point in the near 30-year history of the club, which is set to relocate to the other side of Windsor -- in LaSalle -- this fall.

And their resident Miltonian -- one of just five players from outside of Essex County -- has every intention of going with them.

"I'm going to hit the gym a million times harder this summer and go back really prepared," stressed Woodcroft.