MINOR BANTAM AA GOALIES ON FIRE

The Minor Bantam Rangers came home from the Markham Waxers tournament wondering what the heck their goalies are eating to make them so hot. Both Dana Pollex and Ryan McLaughlin played awesome all weekend allowing only 2 goals in the five games the team played. The team continued to dominate the teams they played out scoring the opposition 17-2.

In their first game the boys played the second seed Bantam AA team in the USA, the Perinton Blades. It was a fast and hard hitting game and the Rangers held on for a 1-0 win. In their next game they blanked the Duffield Blades 6-0 and followed that with a 5-0 win over the Markham Islanders. That win earned the team a spot in the final, even though that had yet toplay their fourth game.

The team's fourth game saw the boys play the host Markham Waxers who were looking for a win or a tie to give them any chance of advancing to the playoffs. Our boys paraded to the penalty box too many times and played short handed for much of the game. The Markham team needed a win and they managed to score and hang on to a 1-0 lead. But the Rangers managed to score forcing the Markham team to settle for the 1-1 tie.

The 1-1 tie turned out to be good enough to earn Markham a spot in the final and the rematch against the Rangers the next day. The final was held at the one of the nicest rinks in the Toronto area, the Angus Glen complex. The boys were pumped and ready to show the Waxers the real Gloucester Ranger team. Right off the opening face off the boys went gunning for their first goal and managed to net one in less than a minute. The Rnagers were up 3-0 after the first period and were not looking back.

The second period was even for both teams, with each scoring a single goal. The third period was much like the second with both teams playing an evenly matched scoreless period. When the final buzzer sounded the Rangers claimed the win with a 4-1 score improving their tournament record to two titles in two tournaments. For their efforts and in recognition of their win the players were sized for championship rings.

The team is riding a winning streak and currently sits atop their division with only one loss and have an amazing 126 goals for and only 32 against on the season. Their only loss came at the hands of the Upper Valley team. The Rangers will travel to Cobden and Pembroke this month to play them hoping to take both games.

Submitted by Liz Rheaume