Bantams Start Season with 2 Wins & a Tie, News, Bantam Rep, U15, 2012-2013 (Listowel Minor Hockey Association)

The 2012/13 Bantams got the season off to a good start beating Hanover 6-1 while collecting a win (6-2) & a tie (1-1) versus Walkerton.

The home opener for the young Cyclones was last Sunday night with Walkerton in town. The story of the game was goaltending as Walkerton’s tender held the hometown Cycs off the board until late in the 3^rd period. Lucas Jamieson finally budged the twine on a rebound from Will Calder’s shot. The late goal earned the locals a 1-1 tie.

The next week the Cycs hosted Hanover and the hometown lads came out more determined, controlling the majority of the play from the opening puck drop. Derek Fischer and Bryce Fletcher would notch a pair of 1^st period goals with Bailey Matheson, Reece Johnson & Calder collecting assists. The pressure continued in the 2^nd period as the Cycs added 2 more goals from Jamieson & Fletcher, Fischer, Josh Gottfried & Cole McKee grabbing assists. Late in the 2^nd Hanover would break Braeden Ellis’s shut-out, but for good measure the hometown lads would add 2 more in the 3^rd securing the 6-1 victory. Third period tallies came from Johnson & Fischer with Reese Reading, Gottfried & Parker Yungblut picking up assists.

The Cycs first road game would be the return match vs Walkerton. With a slightly different Listowel game plan the game started off with good pace as both teams exchanged chances early. However it would be the Cycs who would draw “1^st blood” late in the 1^st when again Jamieson jumped on the rebound (Fischer & Matheson drawing assists). A minute and half later Matheson would extend the led as he converted a McKee feed. The 2^nd period was all Cycs as Matheson, Fletcher & Johnson each found the back of the net (picking up assists were McKee (2), Fischer & Ben Rothwell).  Early in the 3^rd Walkerton would slide one past Jacob Nethercott thus breaking his shut-out bid, but the local lads would quickly respond as Yungblut’s shot would elude the tender (Calder assisting). Walkerton’s late goal would round out the scoring as the Cycs win 6-2.

This weekend the Bantam’s head to Port Dover for their 1^st tournament of the year and with games against Lambton Shores, Paris & Ayr they will have to be sharp.