The
CrossFit Belleville Bantams travelled to Barrie on Saturday to play the first
of a home and home game over the weekend to start the second round of playoffs.
The team is well prepared to play the top team in the ETA and are matched up
well against the Colts who have owned the Devils over the last few seasons.
This year’s version of the Red Devils team is resilient and has the horsepower
to compete with a team that only lost 5 games all year in regular season.
The game on Saturday would start quicker than the boys were expecting and they found themselves on the wrong side of the play and the puck early on. An early Power-Play gave the Colts an opportunity to take a lead, one they would never relinquish as they capitalized on some weak defensive face-off coverage just outside the teams blue-line while Barrie's top player made no mistake when he beat Ethan Taylor.
Just seconds later after the face off at center ice the Red Devils found themselves short-handed once again and the referee has yet to see the infraction on which he called a penalty. The Colts would make it 2-0 after a deflection from a point shot. The CrossFit Belleville Bantams would play better in the second and third period but would eventually lose 5-0 despite out chancing and outplaying the Barrie Colts during the last two periods. Ethan Taylor played well despite the score and the team needs to play better if they want to go far into the OMHA’s.
Sunday would see the CrossFit Belleville Bantams host the Colts in Madoc and guessing by the number of people in the stands there wasn’t much going on in Madoc as the place was packed. Brennan Bush was the difference early on as the Colts came ready to play right from the opening face-off. The Devils had some edge to their game tonight and some speed in their steps which were needed and slowly took over the game part way through the first period.
Michael Andrews would open the scoring on an unassisted short-handed tally that went high glove over the Barrie goalie. The crowd would sit on their hands until the second period when Quinte started to pull away with the game as the hard-nosed in your face line of Ryan Loiselle, Nolan Seto and Bailey Matthews once again put their work boots on and carried the play in the Barrie zone and were finally rewarded for their efforts. Nolan Seto would find the back of the net as Ryan Loiselle and Bailey Matthews worked the give and go from the corner to the slot and over to Nolan on a goal that was well deserved.
A few minutes later the passing sensation Emmet Pierce set up Daniel Panetta for a tap-in that brought the crowd to a frenzy and gave the Red Devils a 3-0 lead. After some penalty trouble for the Colts the Bantams were given a 5 on 3 power play and they took advantage of the opportunity right off of the face off as Bailey Matthews tied up the Colt center-man then Michael Andrews scoped up the loose puck and fed Dalton Bancroft whose one-timer was in the back of the net before the goalie could get square giving the Bantams a 4-0 lead heading into the third period
The third period was very rough and was penalty filled for the most part and both Quinte and Barrie traded opportunities but the defensive core for Quinte once again stood tall as they have all year. Keegan Hunt was a welcomed addition back into the line-up. Zach Uens, Carden Guerin, Connor Kennedy, Derrick Vos and Cameron Supryka were all instrumental in the victory as #DEFENCEWINSCHAMPIONSHIPS and they were not outworked or out played in the defensive zone during this game. Even though the defence for the most part were held off of the score sheet, so too was Barrie’s offence which was very powerful in the regular season as they outscored the entire league.
Game Summary: The Quinte Red Devils CrossFit Belleville goals were scored by Michael Andrews, Nolan Seto, Daniel Panetta and Dalton Bancroft while assists went to Emmet Pierce, Cameron Supryka, Michael Andrews, Bailey Matthews(2) and Ryan Loiselle. Brennan Bush took home the victory and was the difference maker early on as he gave his team the big saves when they needed it.
The next game in the series is Thursday March 3, 2016 @ 7:30pm and then back home in Madoc Saturday @ 4:00pm.