The East Lambton Bantam Rep team were able to venture to our own barn
for the right to compete for the bragging rights of being the C division
regional champs.
The team started out slow with their first opponent Dresden who they had played 3 times throughout the year. Dresden came out ready to play. Dresden kept the pressure on throughout the game and was able to keep their 3-0 lead throughout the game. Even despite some heavy pressure from East Lambton the last 6 minutes of the game the Dresden goalie was making keys saves to preserve the shutout win over East Lambton.
Our next game was against Lambton Shores who had beat us all regular season. The boys were licking their wounds from the previous night and fire in their belly. The first period went scoreless and halfway through the second period, when East Lambton was able to score 2 goals late in the second period to build the momentum before the flood. About halfway through the third period Lambton Shores was able to pot a goal to cut the lead in half. East Lambton wasn't going to give up their lead that easily. Scoring a minute thirty later to get back their 2 goal lead. East Lambton tried to hold their lead for the duration of game but Lambton Shores kept coming. With 5 minutes left they were able to sneak within one making it 3-2. With strong goaltending between the pipes Archer was able to secure the win.
After the round robin games were completed East Lambton had finished 4th and had to play Lambton Shores again Sunday morning who were the first seed. Sunday morning the boys were to play. Building from the momentum from Saturday night, again another tight game for the first period and a half. The boys were able to notch one on the scoreboard with 6 minutes left in the second. Three minutes later a sweet goal from the point doubled the lead to 2-0. Early In the third East Lambton boosted the lead to make it 3-0. By this time Lambton Shores was completely frustrated and it was all East Lambton and finished off the game with one more goal for a 4-0 win for the right to play in the Silverstick Regional Finals.
The Showdown vs Dresden for the Sunday Afternoon finale. The redemption was showing on the kid’s faces from the Friday game. With another scoreless first period the packed house was on pins and needles waiting for that first goal from either team. East Lambton were able to score with 45 seconds left on the clock right before the flood of the second. With the crowd behind the boys they came out quick and scored another goal in the first minute of the third. Scoring the second goal had the boys in the driver's seat. Six minutes left in the game secured another goal. Dresden decided a goalie change was needed by the coaching staff so they could try and regroup, but there was no turning back now, didn't matter what goalie Dresden was going to use at this point. East Lambton scored 2 more goals in the last 5 minutes of the game. Giving Josh Archer his second shutout for the day and to seal up the The Silverstick Regional Championship.
The boys should be proud of what they accomplished this weekend and carry on the momentum into North American Silverstick
Players on the Bantam team are Brayan Caley, Carter Caley, Brandon Faulds, Jesse Straatman, Ryan Hayter, Joey Hayter, Brad McAlpine, Jeff Power, Peyton Mahovlich, Charlie Verhoeven, Luke Sanders, Josh Archer, Nathan White, Keegan Smith, Deen Greer, Josh Rops, Dylan Campbell
Congrats Boys!