Oct 23, 2010 | stottle | 1183 views
Stars Bounce Back With Win Over Bandits
The Minor Bantam Stars rebounded from a disappointing weekend in Orillia with a comfortable 5-1 win over the London Bandits and remain unbeaten at home on the season. The Stars relied again on their power play to set the tone, as the unit scored on its first two opportunities to stake the Stars to a 3-0 lead midway through the game. A Bandit penalty shot goal midway through the third period was the only blemish on the Stars defensive record.
The Stars wasted little time on their first power play opportunity, scoring only eleven seconds in it. With just under five minutes remaining in the first period, Jesse Tottle broke in to the slot from his usual quarterback position on the blue line, took a nice pass from Andrew Baxter and fluttered a limp-wrister past Bandits goaltender, Mike Bushel to give the Stars a 1-0 lead. Dane Jacoletti also assisted on the play.
At 9:11 of the second period, Dane Jacoletti rushed down the left side boards and into the offensive zone before spotting Josh Reda driving hard to the net. Dane threaded a perfect dish through a Bandit defender and Josh one-timed pass though the wickets of Mr. Bushel.
A little more than a minute after Josh Reda gave the Stars a 2-0 lead, the Stars power play struck again. This time the unit took almost forty seconds of power play time before Jesse Tottle returned the earlier favour with a beautiful goal crease pass to wide open Andrew Baxter standing alone off the right goalpost. Andrew made no mistake as he slammed the puck past a helpless Bushel for a 3-0 Stars lead.
The Stars increased their lead to 4-0 in the opening minute of the third period. Andrew Baxter toyed mercilessly with three Bandit defenders for several seconds below their goal line before driving to the front of the Bandit net. T. J. Turley picked up an eventual loose puck and shoveled it in as gracefully as a Turley can possibly be.
Three minutes later, Matt Thomson unloaded a howitzer from the right point that found the top corner behind an astonished Bushel for a commanding 5-0 Stars lead. T. J. Turley and Andrew Baxter, with his fourth point of the night, earned assisted on the goal.
The fans were treated to a Bandits penalty shot with seven minutes remaining in the game when Isaac Robinson hauled down Bandits captain Jake Watkins on an apparent breakaway. Rogie Tottle, who had been solid but relatively untested until that point in the game, made a valiant effort to try and maintain his shut-out. However, Watkins was able to sneak the puck past Rogie's outstretched pad to put the Bandits on the scoreboard.
The two teams completed the final seven minutes rather uneventfully, finishing with a 5-1 Stars win.
Game Notes: The writer need to correct a misprint from his previous article. I had indicated that Bryce Kernohan scored in the Stars 6-1 victory over Clarkson. In fact, Derek Smith scored on a planned face-off play. Josh Mallory and Bryce Kernohan assisted on play....Rogie Tottle earned the first goalie assist of the year when he was credited with the second assist on Josh Reda's goal. With all the work the goalies have been putting in at practice controlling and passing the puck, it will likely not be the last....Stars alumni Nathan Johnson was in attendance to watch the game as he was down visiting from Burlington. The Stars will meet the rest of Nathan's team in two weeks at the Silver Stick qualifier in Woodstock....Despite the score, Bushel played extremely well for the Bandits including stopping breakaway efforts from Michael McArthur, Bryce Lawrence and Josh Mallory...Isaac Robinson certainly made things interesting on the blue line on a few occasions but give him credit for volunteering to play the position. He still looks like he could be beast back there with a few games under his belt.... Pierce Lawrence has volunteered to be the next defence guinea pig. Look for his debut sometime in mid-November...Stars picture day this Wednesday. Remember to bring the green jerseys for the team photograph...Until next time, keep you stick on the ice and keep reaching for the Stars. Minor Bantam Jr. that is.