A
very even 1st round series ended on Thursday as Goderich won game 6,
4 to 2 thus ending the Bantam’s OMHA playoff hopes.
Despite the Sailors being tied for the best record in the
WOAA the Listowel Bantams gave them a great run for their money forcing the
series to go 6 games. The Cycs got the series off to a great start taking game
1 in Listowel 4-2, then following that up with a nice 3-1 victory in Goderich.
Timely scoring, steady defense and solid goaltending was the receipt for the
Cycs.
The turning point of the series for the Listowel lads was
probably game 3 in Listowel. After falling behind 2-0 in the first the team
showed great resiliency by battling back in the 2nd period to tie
the game at twos. The 3rd period solved nothing despite some real
good scoring chances by the hometown Cycs. In the 1st shift of
overtime the young Cycs just missed another great chance, but from there the
Sailors took control and despite 2 spectacular saves in the Cyc’s net Goderich
potted the winner with 4 minutes remaining in the overtime.
Game 4 was back in Goderich, and the Sailors got off to a
fast start taking a 3 goal lead into the 2nd period. Undaunted the young
Cycs battled back making the score 4-3 late in the 2nd then thought
they had tied the game up only to have the goal disallowed. The 3rd
period had Goderich score an early goal which took the wind out of the Cycs and
the game ended 6-3 for Goderich.
Game 5 in Listowel would prove to be another good tilt as both
teams needed the win to advance. A late 3rd period goal by the Cycs would
again tie the game and sent it to overtime. This time overtime would solve
nothing leaving the series tied as both teams had 6 points apiece.
Game 6 would eventually be played back in Goderich several
days later as the Sailors seemed to have issues finding ice in one of their 2 arenas.
Again like most of the previous games Goderich would jump out to an early lead,
only to have the local lads tie the game in the 2nd period. However
in this game a couple unfriendly bounces would prove to be the difference as
Goderich would win the game 4-2 and advance to the next round.
Despite
the series lose the bantam Cycs should be pleased with their efforts as they
showed great character battling from behind in most games. The goaltending duo
of Braeden Ellis and Jacob Nethercott were very solid if not at times spectacular.
The defensive core (Ben Rothwell, Parker Yungblut, Will Calder, Curtis Jackson,
Reid Gooding) held their own and battled hard against a fast Sailor team. And
finally the forwards ( Reece Johnson, Cole McKee, Bryce Fletcher, Bailey
Matheson, Lucas Jamieson, Reese Reading, Josh Gottfried, Derek Fischer, Cooper
Miller) provided some balanced and timely scoring. Next up for the bantams is
the WOAA playdowns which start Saturday @ 3:00 against BCH.