The Scotiabank Bantam LL team finished off their season on a high note with a win over Listowel 5-1. During this final game of the playoffs the boys were having fun playing together for the last time this season.
The team's moral was high to start this game as the boys have had a great season with many close games this year. With their final game against Listowel who haven't faired very well at all during the playoff round, our boys were keen to just have some good old fashion fun hockey.
Right from the face off our Meteors took possension of the puck passing between all players on the ice and setting up some great plays around the net. Ben Small and Christian Simpson passed the puck between them to allow Jake Walker to get in his spot to fire the puck at the Listowel net minder to score the first goal of the game. Right on boys, let's keep the pressure on! As the play started back at centre, our high flying boys were ready to go again, this time giving Listowel some time with the puck but then Cole Wilton would take the puck and net it himself to increase our lead. First period would end with the good guys leading 2-0.
Second period was a bit more intense than the previous one as the penalty box was a bit more busy, each team continued to get the man advantage but would soon get it taken away with other penalty handed out. Just a few minutes into this period, Christian Simpson would shoot and score from the rebound shots of Cole Wilton and Connor Louwagie. Yesss, what a team effort! At one time during this period, Listowel had a 2 man advantage for a couple of minutes but our gritty Meteors power of Anthony Beuerman, Zach McPhee and Ryker Vanden Broek would clear the puck from our end and switch up with Brent Smith and Karsen Eisler to continue the strong fore checking effort. The red hot glove and quick reflexs of Stevie Daum denied them each chance they had.
We knew watching this final period would be exciting as we were winning 3-0 and the boys were smiling and joking around as stepped out on the ice surface for the last time as a team. With this laid back attitude of our boys, Listowel took advantage and was able to get on the scoreboard. Oh well, just get it back and that is exactly what our guys did! As the period continued to tick off the clock, and many missed shots on the Cyclones goalie from our other lines, the newly formed line of Jarrett Ramseyer, Christian Simpson and Jackson Thorpe got the puck deep in their zone. With the determination from these guys to set Jackson Thorpe up for his first goal of the season, they gave him the chances he needed to finally shoot that little black disk just above the arm of the goalie to score! Awesome job! With a big celebration on the ice and a fist punch from the rest of the bench, we would face off again. This time with the Cyclones getting the chance to get the puck down to our end, Steve Daum would send the puck to the stick of Eric Dearing who would get it Listowel's end to have the puck go back to Cole Wilton to fire a shoot towards the net from the blue line to beat the goalie from the screen of Kole Hunt. Wow, what a shot from the point! Just a couple more minutes till the end of the game and the boys just skated around with the puck, buzzer sounded and this game was over. We took the final game of our playoffs 5-1.
Congratulations boys on a great season of hockey!
I would like to thank the coaching staff, Tim Walker, Paul Beuerman, Justin Lowe and Chris Wilton for all the time and effort you have given to the team this season.