The Owen Sound Gaviller & Company Major Bantams went 2-0-1 during the opening weekend in Tri County Action.
After capturing the Silver in the Owen Sound Early Bird Tournament a week ago, the Major Bantams kept the train on the track full steam ahead against some very tough Tri County opponents this past weekend.
Friday night was opening night for the Gaviller & Company Bantams in the Tri County loop. Owen Sound was on the road to take on the Woolwich Wildcats in Elmira. Owen Sound started off slow against the fast skating Wildcats, and it probably didn't help that the 9:00 o'clock start time turned out to be a 9:30 start. Woolwich opened the scoring half way through the 1st but Owen Sound wouldn't be denied as they tied it up on a beauty from Jordan Lawrence with assists going to Andrew Vardy and Tayan MacMillan. Woowich then pulled ahead but Owen Sound found its legs and Jordan Lawrence potted his 2nd on the night, unassisted. Tayan MacMillan tied it up for the visiting Jr. Attack in the 3rd and opening night ended with 3-3 tie and the Accountants left town with a point.
Owen Sounds home opener was played at the Bayshore Saturday afternoon against last years OMHA Finalists, the Burlington Eagles. Again Owen Sound started off slow and Burlington got the opening goal of the game. Similar to the evening before in Woolwich the Accountants found the next gear they needed and didn't look back. Jordan Lawrence was back to his scoring tricks as he potted the tieing goal from Matt Lyall. Tanner Prior got the winner from Larsen Lorenz. Prior then returned the favor and he fed Larsen Lorenz for the 3rd goal of the game, with Matt Lyall adding the other helper. Noah Rouse potted the 4th late in the 3rd to seal the victory with helpers from Matt Struthers and Kurt Long Reese Pettigrew was solid in net and after allowing the 1st goal 5 minutes into the game, he shut the Eagles down the rest of the way to earn the win.
The Gaviller & Company Bantams finished the weekend off Sunday afternoon at the Bayshore. They were pitted against the Hespeler Shamrocks who ended up 1st last season in the Tri County. Owen Sound's Kurt Long scored the 1st goal of the game on a great pass from Josh Batterman. This was all the Accountants needed, however they didn't stop there and potted 3 more on the day to seal the victory. Brady Brown scored a beauty from Matt Lyall and Tanner Prior. Newly appointed captain of the Gaviller & Company squad Andrew Vardy potted the 3rd with assists going to Tayan MacMillan and Nathaniel Dodd. Tayan MacMillan then added a 4th and some insurance late in the 3rd period to seal the victory.
Jack Armstrong was strong in net on this day. He made several big saves and made others look easy as he sealed the victory and the shutout. Great Job Army!!!
Hard work certainly pays off and usually from my perspective the team that works the hardest, capitalizes on the powerplay, forechecks the heck out of their opponent and has solid goaltending wins the game. Well this weekend this team did all of the above for the most part and did it well. It is early in the season, and certainly 1 weekend does not make a successful season, however if this team can continue the team play and hard work on and off the ice, and can "Be Better Everyday" the teams success will surely follow and they will be rewarded.
I am sure after this weekend there are 3 teams in the Tri County loop that will come to the rink knowing this team is for real and they better come to the rink prepared for a tough game each and every time they play the Owen Sound Gaviller & Company Jr. Attack Bantams!!!!
Great Job Boys... !!!