OHSWEKEN – Six Nations Midgets started slow, but finished strong Sunday with a 5-2 win over the Glanbrook Rangers at the Gaylord Powless Arena.
After a fluke goal scored by Jesse Gibbon on a powerplay handed the visiting Glanbrook Rangers the lead early in the first period, the Six Nations Midgets were fortunate to keep the score where it was as the period ended. Glanbrook looked faster and stronger on the puck than Six Nations.
That situation changed dramatically in the second period as Six Nations started playing a little more aggressively and purposefully, but not before the Rangers added a second goal when they capitalized on another powerplay chance a minute and a half into the second.
Suddenly, Six Nations woke up and pushed back with three quick goals, stunning the visitors.
Travis Longboat finished off an end-to-end rush by Donny Whitlow who dished the puck off to Longboat on the crease who tipped it in to cut the Rangers’ lead in half.
Hayden Smith made good on his own rebound to even the score at 2-2, assisted by Hill and Daryl Porter at 9:28 of the middle frame, and Nick Martin added another 20 seconds later, assisted by Sam Green. Thirty-six seconds later Six Nations Bantams held a 4-2 lead after Vern Hill scored from Daylen Hill, who assisted on three of Six Nations’ goals.
Hunter Sibbic was credited with the final goal of the game at 6:50 with a goal crease tip-in for the 5-2 final score.
“I think, by far, it’s the best game we played all year,” said coach Terry “Bean” Smith. “Well, maybe the last two periods anyhow.”
He has found that his team picks up the pace when they start to hit, but whenever they do, it seems they get put in the box with head-contact penalties, due to the size of some of his players.
“Remember, they got two powerplay goals,” he said. “That took the momentum away from us. But after we started going five-on-five, we started getting our legs under us and we started getting the momentum.”
He pointed specifically to Nick Martin, whom he said worked very hard as a third line forward. He’s been playing defense all season so far before being put together with Daryl Porter and Brayden Doxtator to form a [potent combination.
“I told him to go out and have some fun and see what would happen, and he gets a goal,” said Smith.
Smith calls on his captain and the leader of the team, Travis Longboat, to always inject energy into his team whenever they need it, as he did Sunday.
