Jan 22, 2010 | TMatheson | 1123 views
Bantams Advance To Round Two
The Bantam Reps have eliminated Mitchell 6 points to 2 in their first round of playoff action.
Listowel and Mitchell traded wins and losses throughout the season, so everyone was expecting a very close series, and no one was disappointed. The first round match-up started at home a couple of weeks ago. The home town team came out hard and were rewarded with the first goal of the game with just 1:36 left in the first period. The goal was scored by Connor Johnson with assists to Cory Wilson and Mike McMurren. The Cycs took a two goal lead early in the second when Johnson found the back of the net again, unassisted. With just under five minutes on the clock in the second, Matt McCracken moved the twine assisted by Cole Fletcher and Alex Balthes. Mitchell cut the lead to two before the end of the second. Mitchell fought hard in the third and finally scored again with 2:45 on the clock. This is all the scoring the fans would see and Mitchell Smith earned a 3 - 2 win in net.
Game two took the boys to Mitchell and once again, Johnson started the scoring late in the first, assists to Wilson and Justin Miller. The Cycs took a two goal lead with a nice shot from Conner Dewar from a nice face-off win from Travis Bender. Mitchell would answer back a minute later to cut the lead to one, but the Cycs regained the two goal lead two minutes later from Johnson, Wilson and Tyler Hak. Mitchell would cut the lead to one again and would then tie it up with just over four minutes left in the third. The game remained tied at the final buzzer and we were heading to overtime. Mitchell quickly ended the game just 26 seconds into the OT, series tied at 2 points each.
Game three was back in Listowel and for the third straight game, Johnson would put the first marker on the scoreboard, just 19 seconds into the game, assists to Hak and Miller. Just over a minute later, Michael Hogwood would go top shelf to extend the lead to two, assisted by Nathan Dietz and Balthes. Bender would give the Cycs a three goal lead late in the second, assisted by Cody Matheson, but it was quickly cut to two before the break. The Cycs would strike again midway through the third and Mitchell would come back with one more before the end of the third. Final score 4 - 2. Smith had the win in net.
Game four was back in Mitchell and the boys knew that a victory would seal the deal and move them on to the next playoff round against Goderich. Mitchell lit the lamp first midway through the first period. McCracken tied it up on the powerplay early in the second. Bender from Hogwood gave the Cycs the lead to end the second period. Andy Gooding would finish on a nice wrap-around to end the scoring early in the third. Final score 3 - 1. Jesse Nethercott earned the win between the pipes. Listowel wins the series 6 points to 2 and move on to face the Goderich Sailors in round two.