Dec 10, 2013 | vmighton | 714 views
Lightning win SILVER at Markham-Stouffville Bantam Classic
The Saugeen Maitland Bantam AA's were in top shape this past weekend as they won 6 out of 7 games, and took home SILVER at the Markham-Stoufville Bantam Classic Tournament!
Game 1 saw the Bantam's pitted against the Barrie Sharks, and while it seemed to take a bit to get our legs moving, the girls played a strong game and came out ahead 3 - 0. Maddie Davey started the scoring on an unassisted play with 2 minutes left in the first. Kailee Hewitt would add an unassisted goal of her own with just under 10 to go in the second, and Morgan Murray would tip in a shot from Kara Colhoun on the point, to finish the scoring at 3 - 0 with less than 25 seconds left in the 3rd.
The Lightning would play their second game, a late night affair, against the Mississauga Chiefs, and would go down 1 - 0 at the end of the first frame. Period 2 would see the Lightning go ahead with 3 unanswered goals. Morgan Murray would slide the puck through the 5-hole on a break away rush, unassisted to start things off, and would be followed by Jocelyn Ballantyne getting 2 quick goals to go ahead 3 -1 at the end of 2. Morgan Murray would get both assists on the Ballantyne goals. Mississauga would continue to pressure, and add one more in the 3rd, but with SML goalie KC Chagnon in top form, it was all they could muster and the Bantams would take it 3 - 2, but in the process, our already injury plagued team would go down another player as Jamey Cunningham would be spun around and leave the game with an "upper body injury".
Game 3 of the weekend would be against the Belleville Bearcats, and once again the Lightning came out with winning on their minds! Belleville would have some great scoring chances early in the game, but once again KC Chagnon was turning away pucks like a pro. Kelsey Mighton would start things off with a sweet shot on a beautiful set up by Kailee Hewitt and Morgan Murray mid way through the 1st. Hewitt would add one of her own at 10:36 for the second, followed closely by Maddie Davey at 9:35. Jennelle Smeltzer, Ballantyne and Bryanna Campbell would pick up assists. Belleville would finally slip one in to end the second period 3 - 1. The 3rd period saw the Lightning defence crew of Natalie Gallagher, Natalie Nixon, Emma Swift, Kara Colhoun and call up player Taylor Humphrey get the job done through a round of battles and pressure by the Bearcats, who would finally see success with 4:59 left in the game to make the score 3 - 2, but it was not enough, as the Lightning would win again.
Game 4 of the round robin saw the Bantams matched against the strong Aurora Panthers squad, and the girls had nothing but winning on their minds. We had played this team in Detroit, and had a bone to pick. Once again, KC Chagnon stood on her head and proved why she is an elite goalie. Aurora would take the lead in the 1st period with 3 minutes to go, and it looked like that would be the final, until the 3rd period started and the Lightning struck! Davey once again found the mesh and tied the game with Hewitt getting the assist. Just a minute later, the Lightning would strike again, as Smeltzer would go in unassisted. The teams would battle hard to the end, but neither could score, so the Lightning finish the round robin with a perfect 4 and 0 record.
Using the tie breaker formula, that would put them in 3rd place overall, out of 18 AA top Bantam teams competing!
Quarter final game would be vs 6th place Barrie Sharks. While the Lightning knew they could beat them, Barrie had lots to prove, and came out strong. Not strong enough though, as Aleya Murray would slip one in at the mid point of period 1 to take the lead, assisted by twin sister, Morgan. 2nd period would be back and forth, but Smeltzer managed to light the lamp with 8 and a 1/2 left to go up 2 - 0 and would hold that score for the remainder of the period. Barrie would battle back and score 1 in the 3rd, but it would not be enough to stop the Lightning from moving to the semi-finals, and their 2nd game of the day.
In a twist of fate that proves there is nothing to take for granted in hockey, the Nepean Raiders, who ranked 7th out of the 18 teams, defeated the London Devilettes 2nd place finishers, meaning the Lightning would not get a shot of redeeming themselves against their league rivals. SML would play Nepean and take the lead with 3:16 to go in the first with Bryanna Campbell scoring, assisted by Morgan Murray and Hewitt. The Lightning would deepen the lead to 2 on a shot from the point by Natalie Gallagher, with Davey picking up the assist. Smeltzer would add a tally to make the score 3 - 0, unassisted before Nepean finished the period to make it 3 - 1. The teams would exchange goals in the 3rd to make the final 4 - 2,with Davey adding the final marker for the Bantams. Bring on the finals!!!!
The finals of the Tournament would be a challenging game for the injury stricken Lightning squad, but a determined squad prepared to meet up with the Etobicoke Dolphins to battle for Gold. The Dolphins would get off to a quick start, and lead at the end of the 1st by a 3 - 0 score. They would add another in the 2nd to go ahead 4 - 0, before Jennelle Smeltzer would break through with a goal, assisted by Emma Swift, to end the game 4 - 1, meaning the Bantams would have to settle for Silver.
The entire team had an amazing weekend, both on and off the ice. Congratulations to all the players for a fabulous weekend! You all played amazing hockey, and set the bar high for the remainder of the season.
Action returns to Howick this Saturday and Sunday as the Bantams take on Bluewater Hawks and the Brantford Ice Cats at 1:30 both days. Come on out and cheer on your Silver Medal winners!!!!