Bantams lose in 6 games to Sailors, News, Bantam Rep, U15, 2012-2013 (Listowel Minor Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2012-2013 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 01, 2013 | Rob Hollinger | 1463 views
Bantams lose in 6 games to Sailors
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.