PARRY SOUND - The Ritchie Insurance Bantam (RIB) hockey team found itself back in the Muskoka Parry Sound play off loop after losing to the Collingwood Blackhawks in the quarter finals of the OMHA play downs.
Saturday night the RIB faced Haliburton Highland Storm in the first of the best two out of three series.
As Parry Sound took to the ice, from the normal 15, and the regular coach and trainer it carried in the quarterfinals. The RIB sat back on their heels in the first half of the game as the Highlanders took a commanding 4-0 lead. But something changed at the half way mark of the game to spark the RIBs as Winston Badger and Alex Archer fed Austin Salerno for a power play goal at 5:38 in the second. Less than two minutes later Josh Badger won a draw back to JR Tudhope for a blast from the point that cut the lead to 4-2 as the boys went to the dressing room for intermission.
Coach Rob Tudhope’s team came out in the third on fire. From the opening faceoff Stuart Thornton head manned the puck to Salerno who streaked down the left wing and found Tyson Shaw in front of the net for the beautiful redirect. The lead was down to one goal. Haliburton would score another but Parry Sound answered immediately with three quick goals to take the lead for the first time in the game.
At 9:08 W. Badger skated end to end for a fabulous slap shot from the blue line to whiz by the goal tender’s left ear to the top corner. Eight seconds later from the centre ice face off Archer took the puck in and passed to Shaw for his second marker of the night. Shaw wasn’t finished as Salerno again went down the left boards and found J. Badger for the one timer. Shaw picked up the rebound and net his hat trick at 7:29.
The RIBs played well with the lead. But as the seconds ticked down the Storm pressed sending everything they had to the net.
Cole George continued to make save after save to keep his team ahead. It wasn’t until 1:18 remaining in the third period that Haliburton tied the game to send it to overtime.
Both clubs wanted the win heading to Minden the following weekend. Chances presented for both teams with the goalies making remarkable saves. It was the Storm who pressed the RIB net minder to squeak it under his glove and cross the goal line.
The fans were impressed by the “down but not out” determination of the Ritchie Insurance Bantams.
They battled back from 4-0 to lose in over time. Well done boys. The bantams travel to Minden on March 6 for two games in Storm territory. It will be a tough battle on Storm ice, but the grit and determination portrayed at the Bobby Orr Community Centre Saturday night will be something to build on.