Bantam AE - Bantam AE Rockets Reach Finals of Regional Silverstick
Submitted By Kelly Kuindersma on Monday, December 12, 2011
The Newell Networking Strathroy Bantam AE Jr.
Rockets were finalists in the Bantam AE Silverstick Regional Qualifier
Tournament held over the Dec 2nd – 4th weekend in South
Huron. Shamrock league rival Mt. Brydges,
in a hard fought contest that could have gone either way, edged out the Jr.
Rockets in the championship game.
Strathroy began tournament action on Friday, Dec. 2nd with a 9-0 thumping of Mooretown. The Jr. Rockets lead 2-0 after the first and 5-0 after two in a game that saw the team improve their level of play with each successive period. Eric Kuindersma lead the way with three goals while Matt Findlay picked up a pair as singles went to Josh Hamilton, Lucas Wilson, Jimmy Knapman and Mateo Lambregts. Wilson, Brian Lee and Matt Pitt chipped in with two assists each in the victory as Matt Boere picked up the shutout in net for Strathroy.
Next up later that same day was a contest against Mt. Brydges in what would ultimately be a preview of the championship game. The opposition, playing their first game of the tournament, looked like the fresher team, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after two periods against a sluggish Strathroy squad as Troy Cormier faced a number of quality scoring chances in the Jr. Rockets net. Strathroy stepped it up in the third period and were rewarded as Lambregts jammed home a rebound from Hamilton and Goulart to cut the lead to 2-1, but there would be no further scoring and that would be the final. The result meant that Strathroy would need to win their remaining games to be assured of a trip to the championship game.
The next game would take place early on Saturday, Dec. 3rd as the Jr. Rockets faced another Shamrock league foe, Ilderton. Strathroy dominated play in the first period but would only escape with a 1-1 tie. Tyler Noble-Welch opened the scoring unassisted for Strathroy on a rink-length rush, but Ilderton would tie it up 1-1 on the power play heading to the second period. The Jr. Rockets would then take the lead with a power play goal of their own as Matt Pitt scored from Findlay and Vandenberk to make it 2-1. The third period would be a nervous one as Strathroy was unable to secure an insurance goal and Boere was called upon to make a big save on a goalmouth scramble to preserve the lead. With a minute remaining, Ilderton pulled their goalie and the Jr. Rockets took advantage as Matt Goulart picked up a loose puck on a line change to race in on an empty net breakaway and ice the 3-1 victory.
With one game remaining to qualify for the finals, the Jr. Rockets took on Tillsonburg later that night. Strathroy got the start
they were looking for, jumping out to a 1-0 lead on a first shift goal from Dustin Davis on a follow-up of a Kuindersma rush. The Jr. Rockets would extend the lead late in the second period on a shorthanded goal as Pitt won a defensive zone faceoff and sprung Goulart who cashed in on the breakaway to make it 2-0. Matt Pitt would then put the game out of reach in the third, scoring with just over five minutes to play on a backhander from Hamilton and Davis. A last minute power play goal by Tillsonburg would make the final score 3-1 as Boere picked up his third victory of the tournament in the net for Strathroy.
The championship game was played on Sunday, Dec. 4 th and would feature the Jr. Rockets in a rematch against Mt. Brydges, with the winner advancing to the Bantam AE International Silverstick finals in Pelham, Ontario. As with their earlier contest, this game would also be a close checking, low-scoring affair. After a scoreless first period, Strathroy would strike first as Hamilton converted a Goulart feed to make it 1-0. Just when it looked like the Jr. Rockets might be able to take the second period lead to the dressing room, Mt. Brydges scored late on a one-timer goalmouth deflection to make the score 1-1 entering the third. The final period would be a back and forth affair with Cormier turning aside the opposition in the Strathroy net. With the thought of overtime lingering, Mt. Brydges scored the winner off a wide point shot that bounced off the boards to a waiting teammate on the other side of the net. Despite benefiting from a late power play opportunity and pulling the goaltender for an extra attacker, the Jr. Rockets were unable to get the equalizer, and the game ended 2-1, the same score as the previous contest between the teams.
Congratulations go out to all the players for a great effort over the course of the tournament.
Next up for the Newell Networking Strathroy Bantam AE Jr. Rockets is Shamrock league play against St. Marys on Monday, Dec. 12th at 7:30 pm in St. Marys.
