Bantam LL3 Undefeated in Round-Robin Play, News, Bantam LL3, U15, 2012-2013 (New Hamburg Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2012-2013 season, which is not set as the current season.
News Article
News Article Image
Mar 08, 2013 | Albert Ross | 790 views
Bantam LL3 Undefeated in Round-Robin Play
With 4 wins and 0 losses, the Delivery Guys Husky Bantam LL3 were looking to solidify their advancement into the play-down finals but first they had to get past a pair of very tough teams from Paris. Game 5 of their round robin went on March 4 in Paris as the Dogs faced the Wolf Pack LL2 in what became a very tough contest of wills. 

The opposition came out fighting and net-minder Liam Saunders was forced to be sharp before his team could rally. Connor Ross and Matt Elliot both came close on rushes but it would be Cam Gingerich on a feed from Kolton Wagler who would open the scoring. The physical aspect of the game ratcheted up a notch and continued into the second with both sides picking up penalties along the way. A roughing call against Paris gave the Huskies an opportunity that paid dividends in spades. Kale Meyer, getting great puck support from Wagler and Colin Shannon, teed one up from the face-off circle to double the Husky tally. More chances followed in the third with Trevor Brubacher coming close followed by Jake Snider and Mike Thrush. Penalties were dolled out to both sides but the Huskies soon found themselves two men short with a resurgent Wolf Pack pressing hard. They quickly capitalized, potting a power-play point but were unable to find the tying point. Saunders kept the opposition at bay and secured the tight 2 – 1 win for his team. The victory solidified the Dogs in the top slot for the round-robin portion of the play-downs but they still had to face the Wolf Pack LL1 for the 6th and final round-robin game. As a matter of principle, the Huskies took to the ice in Paris on March 8 with every intention of sweeping the series. Paris, wanting to end their season with a win, pulled out the stops and the teams battled to a scoreless draw after the first frame. The opener came early in the second when Meyer punched one through the 5-hole. Gingerich and Elliot secured the helpers on the play. But the home team was not backing down. End-to-end hockey ensued with Paris re-establishing the deadlock as the frame wound down. It looked like the third frame would open that way but a daring rush by Gingerich and a cross-crease pass to Thrush was all that was needed to regain the lead with 2 seconds remaining. It was more hard and fast action in the third but a boarding call against the Dogs gave Paris the window of opportunity to tie the game once again. With both sides playing flat out, this was one contest that was too close to call. The buzzer left the game a 2 – 2 tie but the Dogs cemented their top slot heading into the finals with an undefeated record. As fate would have it, they will face the Paris Wolf Pack LL2 in a series final to decide the championship. Congratulations and good luck Huskies!