On Saturday, February 28th the Scotiabank Bantam LL team hosted the Ripley Wolves for their fifth playoff game. This team has been untouchable and tonight’s game was no different as they recorded Reid DEGROOT’S ninth shutout of the season and brought themselves that much closer to a clean sweep for this first round of playoff games.
The puck had barely left the referee’s hand at the first face off of the night when Jackson MACARTHUR delivered it right into Ripley’s net, or so we thought, because just as that puck was about to cross the goal line a Ripley player’s stick came out of nowhere and scooped up that biscuit preventing it from travelling any further. Both teams went back and forth trying desperately to get that first goal of the night when suddenly MACARTHUR once again sprinted towards the net and scored that goal. His faithful line-mate, Jake MONDEN, was there to get the assist. Both teams served some time in the penalty box, but it didn’t affect the scoreboard and the first period ended 1 to 0 for us.
Mitchell dominated in the second period firing shot after shot at Ripley’s proficient goalie until finally Erie DEARING got one past him. Ben HART and MACARTHUR were responsible for the assists. Shortly thereafter Kurtis FORREST scored. Anthony BEUERMAN and Kyle WETTLAUFER grabbed the assists for that goal. Once again, only minutes later, DEARING found his way up to the net and scored their fourth goal of the night which was assisted by HART and Des FINLAYSON. DEGROOT continued to protect our net, however, he did not get a whole lot of action that period and it ended 4 to 0 us.
The third period was rather uneventful, unless you consider a hat trick a reason to cheer. Of course it is and DEARING claimed that hat trick after scoring half way through the period. The assist went to HART. The buzzer sounded and once again Mitchell won! The score was 5 to 0.
Good luck boys as you continue your playoff series in Goderich on Sunday night.