Jan 20, 2016 | Terri Patterson | 666 views
Crusaders win first round series against Seaforth!
The Howson Mills Bantam Rep Crusaders hosted the Seaforth Stars in the fifth game of the first round of OMHA playoffs, and came away with a 5-3 win.
The Crusaders got Captain Jacob Roth back for the game, adding another weapon that the Stars had to worry about.
Both teams came out skating hard, each wanting to put the game away early. Seaforth was able to open the scoring, but the Crusaders answered back 17 seconds later on a goal by Mason Weber, the only assist going to Ryan Jacklin.
The second period started strongly for the Crusaders with the line of Colin Howson flanked by Cole Zwep and Myles Johnston outworking the Stars, and keeping them hemmed up in their own end. The hard work paid off when Myles Johnston was able to score and put the Crusaders ahead. Assists went to Mason Weber and Ryan Jacklin. The teams entered the flood tied at 2-2.
Seaforth opened the third period scoring with a knuckleball that bounced of the defence and past the goaltender. This seemed to ignite the Crusaders who elevated their game and took the play to the Stars.
Bailey Bos, playing a strong defence all series, rushed the puck and was able to tie the game on a goal assisted by Jacob Roth.
Mason Weber, not to be outdone, buzzed the Seaforth zone and was finally able to put the Crusaders ahead with five minutes to play.
The team buckled down and strong defensive play by Dakota Coultes and Alex Coultes stopped Seaforth from getting many quality shots on net, and when they did, goalie Spencer Lazarevich was there to keep it out. Wingers Nick Aitken and Ben Jacklin worked hard and helped keep the puck out of the Crusader zone as time wound down.
Seaforth was finally able to get out of their zone and pull their goalie. Ryan Jacklin, who had been a force all night, was able to break up a Seaforth play and get the puck to Cole Zwep who shot the puck the length of the ice for an empty net goal! Back up goalie Max Newson led the cheers on the bench as the clock wound down and the Crusaders won.
The Bantam Rep Crusaders will take on South Bruce in the second round of OMHA playoffs.