The KLP Construction Bantam A Tyees returned home to the friendly confines of Rod Brind’Amour Arena last weekend after six consecutive weeks on the road.
The Nanaimo Clippers would provide the competition on Saturday. It was just the third meeting of the season, but already there is quite the rivalry building between these two clubs. The home team led 1-0 after the first on a goal by Codey Savey. The Clippers, though, were a different team in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals and putting the Tyees back on their heels.
The hosts would not be deterred; Savey closed the gap to one and the Tyees tied the game at the end of the second period, as Jacob Hartley tipped in a nice pass from Braydon Kratzmann.
The third was a rough, penalty filled affair. Both teams seemed to lose their cool at times. The Clippers were able to take advantage on the power play and run the score to 6-3. Hartley finished the scoring late in the third, assisted by Kratzmann and Savey. Final score was 6-4 for the Clippers.
Sunday’s game saw the Cowichan Valley Capitals make the trek north to the Brindy. Although Cowichan scored first, the home squad continued to press.
Hartley tied the game with an amazing individual effort, taking on three Cowichan players in the corner, he came out with the puck and slid it past the keeper. Seth Parker put the Tyees in the lead and shortly after, Hartley lit the lamp again. Nolan Corrado scored the final goal to give the home squad a 5-1 lead at the ice clean.
It seems as though the Tyees thought this game was over, but the Capitals would have more to say before the day was finished. The Capitals stormed back to tie the game early in the third. River Fahey restored the Tyee lead with a beautiful one timer that beat the Cowichan goalie on the glove side. Hartley extended the lead with a sweet backhand move on a breakaway and Damian Rennie sealed the win with an empty net goal. The Tyees continue their home stand this Saturday at 1:45 p.m., as they host the highflying Victoria Racquet Club Kings.