Nov 11, 2013 | abader | 622 views
Bantams shine in Thorold
The hard-working defensive effort of the Mitchell Scotiabank
Bantams paid off as they advanced to the semi-finals of the seven-team Thorold
tournament this past weekend, Nov. 8-10, the second year in a row that the squad surprised themselves and their opponents with their play early in the season.
Against their hosts from Thorold in the opening game Friday morning, Kevin Rops was given credit for the tying goal midway through the third period in an eventual 1-1 tie as a crazy bounce somehow found the net. Despite many scoring opportunities, the Meteors could not finish around the net so this bounce was justified and the Meteors deserved a better fate. Tyler Meinen was sharp in goal, rebounding nicely from an early goal which put Thorold ahead.
Mitchell did manage to finish around the net later that night, as Rops scored two late goals to key a three-goal rally in an eventual 4-3 win over Pelham. Down 3-1, Jack O’Rourke scored a power play goal with under eight minutes left, then set up Rops for the tying goal with five minutes to play while shorthanded. Once again linemate O’Rourke, while killing a debatable penalty, set up Rops as he chipped the puck high through the neutral zone and Rops’ hustle paid off in a breakaway marker with 78-seconds left to go. A hard-charging and confident Cooper Preszcator also scored for Mitchell.
The next day, Judd Walker scored Mitchell’s goal in the first period in their 1-1 deadlock against Caledonia Saturday, pouncing on a loose puck in front and showing great patience to flip the puck over the prone Caledonia netminder into an open net.
Needing a win or a tie in their final round-robin game with previously undefeated Simcoe, the locals pulled out a workmanlike 1-0 victory, making O’Rourke’s second period goal stand up as the winner. His "gift" on a goalie miscue was all "Johnny-on-the-spot" O'Rourke needed for the win, as Aaron McNeil was solid in goal for the shutout, making 16 saves.
The win propelled the Meteors into the semi-finals Sunday morning in second place.
Up against their hosts from Thorold once again, Mitchell allowed another early goal to fall behind the eight-ball, this time just 69-seconds into the game, but the Blackhawks counted power play goals less than two minutes apart early in the second to snap a 1-1 tie and never look back in a 4-1 win, eliminating the locals. Ryan Bader scored for Mitchell late in the first, ripping a shot from the point low blocker which briefly gave Mitchell some life.
Thorold would eventually go on and win their own tournament, defeating Simcoe later in the day.
In WOAA regular season action in Teeswater last Monday, Nov. 4, two first period goals by the home side was enough in a 4-1 win over the Meteors. Cooper Preszcator cut the South Bruce lead in half with a power play goal midway through the second as Mitchell used a two-man advantage to their advantage, but the home side restored their two-goal bulge before the period ended before adding an empty netter late in the third.
Mitchell returns to action this weekend, hosting Saugeen Shores Friday at 9 o'clock before hitting the road Sunday afternoon in Ripley against Kincardine at 4:30 p.m.
Also, don't forget - team photos this Thursday, Nov. 14 at 9 p.m. at the arena!