GRAVENHURST - The Bracebridge Phantoms-South Muskoka Shield rivalry got off on the right skate Friday night (Sept. 7) as the Greater Metro Hockey League Junior A clubs kicked off the 2012-13 season against each other.
The Phantoms, one of the league’s new teams this year, proved they won’t be a walk-over this season using their size and speed to challenge the Shield in the corners.
The Phantoms claimed their first victory 5-3, but it was the host Gravenhurst team that broke blood on the season, taking an early 1-0 lead midway through the first period off the stick of forward Andrey Novikov. With time running short in the first period, Bracebridge’s first-ever regular season goal came from Alexandre Laliberte to knot the game at one all.
Bracebridge players Josh Smith and Alex Boswell gave the Phantoms a 3-1 advantage to end the second before a power-play goal and the second by Novikov made a game of it early in the third. Bracebridge responded shortly after with a power-play marker of their own by Tim Camden.
The Shield’s Cody Cesarz added a late goal for the home team, but an empty-netter in the final minute iced the game 5-3 in favour of the Phantoms. Bracebridge goalie Joe Jermain, who put the stop on 34 shots, took home the game’s first star.
While the Shield enjoyed the rest of the weekend off, the Phantoms went on to face the Bradford Rattlers Saturday night, dropping a tight game 1-0. They also had their third game of the season Monday, Sept. 10, but results were too late for press time.
The Shield’s next game will be this Friday, Sept. 14 on home ice at 8 p.m. against Shelburne while the Phantoms will face Powassan in Bracebridge Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m.