This week end the Squire John’s Grey-Bruce Highlanders Minor Bantams went on a three game road-trip, playing Guelph Storm, Burlington Eagles and St. Catharines Falcons.
The first game, against Guelph, started with a scoreless first period and it wasn’t until the 5:39 mark of the second period before the first goal was scored by the Highlanders Darcy Witt (Collingwood) on a goal mouth scramble. At 6:34 of the third Ben Van Ooteghem (Saugeen Shores) scored an insurance goal, assisted by Caleb Stephens (Collingwood). Guelph got back in the game shortly after at 6:09 with a deflected point shot that eluded goalie Tyler Fassl (North-Bruce Peninsula). The Highlanders held off Guelph for the 2-1 win.
Later the same day, Squire John’s Highlanders played at Central Arena against the Eagles. This game also started with a goal-less first period, though the Eagles did have a penalty shot which goalie Aaron Johnson (Chatsworth) stopped. At 7:44 of the second period, Brady Anderson (Chesley) opened the scoring for the Highlanders, assisted by Witt and Hugh Murray (Beaver Valley). At 11:05 of the third Burlington tied the game at 1-1 with a man-advantage goal. At 9:36 the Highlanders regained the lead on their own man-advantage when Garrett McFadden (Kincardine) scored on a point shot off the face-off, assisted by Jordan Vanhaelemeesch (Saugeen Shores). At 6:26 the Highlanders widened their lead to 3-1 when Stephens scored, assisted by Van Ooteghem and McFadden. At 4:33 the Eagles closed the gap on the power play and then scored two more quick goals at 3:56 and 3:42 to the lead. The Highlanders tried to recover from the sudden turn of events but couldn’t turn it back around and the Eagles got the 4-3 win.
The next day the Highlanders were at the Sportsplex in St Catharines for the third game of the weekend. The Falcons opened the scoring at 7:27 after picking up a rebound from a point shot. At 8:57 of the second period McFadden carried the puck from the Highlanders blue-line into the Falcons end, getting around a defensemen and then going in on the goalie. As he deked the puck went to Jamie Little (Grand Valley) who deposited the puck into the empty net. Jamison Buck (Collingwood) also assisted on the goal. At 8:12 Vanhaelemeesch scored on the power play, assisted by Spencer Elder (Owen Sound) and Anderson, to give the Highlanders a 2-1 lead. The Falcons tied things up at 2-2 at 0:55, but the Highlanders quickly responded with a goal from Logan Davidson (Creemore), assisted by Stephens and Buck to regain the lead. At 9:21 of the third period, Elder widened the lead to 4-2 while the Highlanders had the man-advantage. Assisting on the goal were Anderson and McFadden. St. Catharines ended up with a 5 on 3 man-advantage with 1:34 left in the game, pulling their goaltender for the extra man, but the Highlanders held them off for the win.