Sailors Win Game 2 vs. Listowel
On Monday, January 24, the Bantam Rep Sailors played a very physical game against the Listowel Cyclones and came out on top in Game 2 of the playoff series against that team.
Things started off with a bang in the first period as Luke Fraser got possession of the puck right from the opening face-off and blasted one past the Cyclone goalie only six seconds into the game. The Sailors would be on the defensive though for the remainder of the period, as the Cyclones scored three goals in succession to take a 3-1 lead heading into the second. The Sailors came back with a vengeance as Brandon Johnston netted the second Goderich goal at 10:19 of the second, assisted by DJ Stevenson, 3-2 Listowel. Then a nice set-up from Trevor Lockie to Taylor Helesic resulted in the tying goal at 9:10. The Cyclones were aggressively seeking the win, though, and went up by one again shortly after. Right before the end of the second, Steve De Jager tied it up once again for the Sailors, and the period ended in a 4-4 deadlock. The third period saw tempers flaring and hits becoming harder, but the Sailors were able to capitalize on the energy of the crowd when Mykal Hodges passed one up to Helesic who got the go-ahead goal, 5-4 Goderich. Another Sailor goal followed shortly after, when De Jager found Stevenson who netted the sixth Goderich goal, 6-4 Sailors. Great defensive plays by Tyler Moss, Adam Smith, Evan Guest, and Eric MacPhee helped the Sailors stay on top and in control. The Cyclones proved to be pesky opponents who just wouldn't quit, as they scored yet again at 4:53, narrowing the gap to 6-5. But the Sailors wouldn't settle for less than a victory, as Luke Fraser once again rocketed one past the Cyclone goalie to seal it for the Sailors. A late Sailor penalty resulted in Listowel scoring one more goal at 36.7 seconds left, but it wasn't enough, and the Bantam Reps walked away victorious, 7-6.