Bantams Compete With Top Teams at Provincials, News, Bantam AA, 2013 - 2014 (Saugeen Maitland Lightning)

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This Team is part of the 2013 - 2014 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Apr 15, 2014 | Vmighton | 1421 views
Bantams Compete With Top Teams at Provincials
The Saugeen Maitland Lightning Bantam AA team played some of the best hockey they have played all season at the OWHA Provincials Tournament in Mississauga on April 11-13.

They would like to congratulate the SML Midget A team on winning Provincial GOLD, as well as the Midget AA and PeeWee AA on a great tournament.

The Bantam A's were in tough as they ended up being pooled with 2 of the top 5 teams from the LLFHL Championship weekend, but didn't let that discourage them as they played strong and showed their true grit.
Game one had the Boltz up against the North Halton Twisters, and things started out a bit shaky for the Lightning.  The first period remained scoreless, but the Twisters struck first in the 2nd frame, going up 1 - 0.  With nothing to lose and everything to gain, the Bantams dug deep and with just over 5 to go in the 3rd period, Delayna Smith shot the puck in on a dump in attempt which took a wild bounce off the boards and into the unsuspecting goalies feet, where she could not handle it and it trickled in.  As hockey fans always say, they don't have to be pretty, they just have to go in!  That tied the game at 1, and it would remain that way til the final buzzer sounded.
Game 2 would see the Lightning play the Whitby Wolves in their first match up of the year.  Whitby was a top 5 team in the LLFHL and came out fast and aggressive.  This penalty riddled affair would see our girls fight hard, but remain positive and aggressive.  KC Chagnon played a fantastic game in the pipes, and enabled the team to do their jobs and win 3 - 0!  Jocelyn Ballantyne would score on a shorthanded breakaway with 7 minutes to go in the 1st, unassisted to put the Lightning up 1 - 0.  The second period would have Bryanna Campbell find the mesh on a pass from Morgan Murray at the 11 minute mark, and Natalie Nixon would find the empty net in the dying minute of the 3rd to seal the deal.  An incredible win for the Bantams, giving them a lot of momentum heading into game 3 against the Etobicoke Dolphins 2000's.
We had met this team at almost every tournament we have been in, and although we played them tough, we were unable to steal a point from them until this Provincial tournament.  Riding high on the win against Whitby, the girls came out with a lot of determination and spunk for an early Saturday morning game.  KC Chagnon once again had a great game, and would stop many shots fired at her from a strong Etobicoke team.  She would earn the shutout in this match, as the teams would end in a tie after 3 solid periods of play.  Wow.....
That was enough to place us in 3rd place of all the 2nd place teams in our division, meaning we had to play an elimination game against Oakville in order to decide who moves on to the Quarter Finals.  The Lightning came out strong against an aggressive Oakville squad, and Jocelyn Ballantyne would get the first marker with 3:49 left in the 1st to put us up 1 - 0 at the end of the period.  Oakville would come back strong in the 2nd and score 2, going up 2 - 1 by the end of the second frame.  It was still anybody's game and the 3rd period saw fast and furious action as both teams wanted to move on in this elite tournament.  Oakville would be the eventual winners of this match, scoring a late goal in the 3rd period to take the game 3 - 1.

The Bantams would like to thank all their loyal fans, parents and sponsors for a great season.  They played hard, had fun, and made lifetime friendships over the course of the season.  They couldn't have done it without the support they received. 
Good luck to everyone at try-outs!  Let a new season begin!!!!
Sponsors
Colhoun Family Chiropractic
996 Queen St. Kincardine, ON N2Z 2Y2 Phone: 519-396-9515 Fax: (519) 396-9515 Email: [email protected]
Wilton Sanitation
405549 Cty Rd. #4 R.R. #5 Flesherton, ON N0C-1E0 Phone: 1-800-265-6605/519-924-3356 Email: [email protected]
Johnny K Sports
305 10th Street Hanover, ON, N4N 1P1 Phone: 519-364-3927 Email: [email protected]
Swift Nursing and Foot Care Services
Dona Swift, Owner/Operator, R.P.N., A.F.C.N. 956 Boardwalk Kincardine, ON N2Z 0C3 Phone: 519-396-4835 [email protected]