The Stephens Equipment Major Bantam Highlanders played a home game in Markdale this Sunday against the Guelph Storm, looking to complete a season four-game sweep over the visitors. Last weekend’s game was closer than the Highlanders had felt comfortable with, so they weren’t going to take the Storm lightly this time around.
The
first period went scoreless as the Storm goalie played Berlin Wall with the
Stephens Equipment team. About a third
of the way into the second period the Highlanders poked a hole through the wall
at 9:44 when Tyler Rolfe (Shelburne) picked up a rebound in front of the Storm
net and stuffed it in for the 1-0 lead. Jordan
Vanhaelemeesch (Saugeen Shores) and Logan Davidson (Creemore) assisted on the
goal. Later in the period Vanhaelemeesch
received a perfect stretch pass from Brenden Welsh (Owen Sound) to go in alone
on a breakaway only to be stopped by a last ditch effort of the defender. The third period started off with the Storm
pressuring for a goal to close in with the Stephens Equipment Highlanders, only
to have Rolfe score again in close at 8:32 to widen the lead to 2-0. Davidson assisted on the play. After that goal the home team ended up
spending some time killing off a few penalties, fairing well, with Nick Redman (Collingwood)
performing his own version of the Wall when needed. At 2:47 Hunter Robins-Gibbons (North-Bruce
Peninsula) set Rolfe free on a breakaway, with the forward using the deke to
beat the Storm goalie low glove side for a natural hat-trick goal and a 3-0
lead. Davidson received his third assist
for the day on the play. The Storm got a
man-advantage opportunity late in the game and used it to break Redman’s
shut-out bid with 10 seconds remaining in the game.
The
Highlanders play host to two games in Chesley next weekend, one on Saturday at
2:00 pm against the Burlington Eagles and Sunday at 2:30 pm against the
Brampton Battalion. Please feel welcome to
come out and support the Stephens Equipment Bantams.