The Scotiabank Bantam LL started their round robin playoff series on Thursday night with a high note taking the first game of a home and home series against Central Perth. Rematch is set for Friday night in Monkton – should be an interesting one!
Game 1
Thursday night and the boys were keen and ready to start this game – Players lined up, puck dropped, and game on! During the opener, both teams skated well with the puck and each goalie denying them their chances to score the period would end with the score the same as we started – a deadlock of 0. What would it take for someone to score the first goal of the game? With a quick chat from our bench staff to get our boys on fire, we faced off again at centre and from this we quickly torn down the ice with speed and with some nice playmaking from Eric Dearing and Christian Simpson,Anthony Beuerman would tap that little black disk in the net for the first goal of the game, whew whooo! We were on the board and kept that momentum going for the remainder of the period. Our goalie Steve Daum was solid making save after save but eventually Central Perth were able to get one in and tie up the game by the end of the second period. We all knew that this final period was going to be intense as both teams wanted the win. With the ice all cleaned and ready to be marked up once again the clock started for this final action packed period A determined group of Meteors giving it their all to hold Central Perth in check, we would again have a scoring chance but unfortunately it was called off, with a sigh as we all thought it was in, we would take the face off in their end and this time we made sure that puck went in and we scored, Ben Small got the credit for the goal with help from line mates Karsen Eisler and Jake Walker. Right on boys, don’t back down! It didn’t take long again for the boys to set up another great play and got rewarded for their effort. This time, Zach McPhee would earn the marker with Anthony Beuerman and Ryker Vanden Broek earning the assists. Halfway thru this period the good guys were leading 3-1. In the dying minutes of the game, Central Perth decided to pull the goalie and Eric Dearing took full advantage of that and sealed the win with an empty net goal. Buzzer sounded and we have won our first playoff game of the season 4-1, nice start to your playoff run!
Game 2
Friday night was here and this rematch was about to begin. With Central Perth wanting to avenge their loss from the other night the boys knew it was going to be a challenge. Face off, stare down and game on. The first period was back and fourth with both teams trying to get on the board first and Central Perth did exactly that, a few minutes later they get another one past our goalie Brent Smith after making a few good saves before that. We were down by 2 but with time winding down, Eric Dearing would score to cut their lead to 1 before the end of the first period. Jake Walker and Jackson Thorpe would be their for the helpers. Second period was a better performance for our boys as they limited the shots taken on our goalie and scored to even up the score. Karsen Eisler would score unassisted. Go job boys, let's keep this momentum going for the final period! With a break and a nice shiny ice surface to start the final period, Central Perth would take the advantage and score to lead the game in this barn burner. Shoot, come on boys! During this period the play got a little rougher and a few penalties were handed out for each team but the determination of our Meteors gave them the chance to score. In the last minute of play, the bench staff made the decision to pull the goalie for the extra attacker, with that and a mad scamble of players buzzing around the net, Ben Small would score to tie the game. Yesss, awesome job Meteors! Zach McPhee earned the assist. With the game now at a deadlock of 3, the game was over according to the board, but wait, now we needed to play a 10 minute sudden death overtime. With a quick drink break and a plan the boys took the ice for the extra period. Again the intensity picked up from both teams as neither team backed down. Play was back and fourth but halfway thru this overtime, Central Perth would score to seal their win and end the game, tough one boys.
The boys now get set for their next playoff games on Sunday in Wingham and Monday night in Goderich, good luck boys!