This Jiffy Lube Bantam A Chiefs dropped a pair of minor hockey games on the weekend against Powell River and Oceanside.
On Saturday, the Chiefs visited Oceanside for their second tiering game of the year and battled hard in a 4-3 loss. “We really fought through some adversity and were right there in the third with a chance to win the game,” said head coach Sean Toal. “There were a number of times in the game where we could have packed our bags and gone home, but our players were determined to make a game of it,” added Toal.
The Chiefs racked up 42 minutes in penalties compared to Oceanside’s 14 minutes, but the Chiefs’ special teams did not surrender easily. The Chiefs were able to score twice shorthanded and once on the power play as well as kill off a number of two-man advantages.
With the game tied at 3-3 going into the third, Oceanside capitalized on a defensive miscue and took the lead, and despite some good pressure with the goalie pulled late in the game, the Chiefs were denied the equalizer.
On Sunday, the Chiefs hosted Powell River for the first time this year, and unfortunately for the Chiefs, the success on special teams on Saturday did not carry over into Sunday as the Chiefs surrendered six power-play goals in a 7-4 loss.
In an evenly matched game, the visitors capitalized on early power plays and jumped to a 3-0 lead at the midpoint of the game. “Despite not getting the bounces, I knew that if we could get started that we would be able to get back in the game,” said Toal.
A power-play opportunity after the flood proved to be a momentum turner when Mack Christenson pounced on a rebound to get the Chiefs on the board. The Chiefs then battled back to tie the game at 3-3 going into the third, but some undisciplined play resulted in a four-minute power play for Powell River. They scored twice on the man advantage to blow the game open and the Chiefs were not able to respond down the stretch.
The Chiefs finish their tiering round this weekend as they face Cowichan Valley in Fuller Lake and then return home Sunday to host Juan De Fuca.
The Bantam Chiefs invite you to come out and enjoy some entertaining hockey on Sunday with puck drop at 1 p.m. – first 100 fans get in free!
– Jiffy Lube Bantam Chiefs