The Panago Midget Tyees continued their tiering this past weekend at Rod Brind’Amour Arena where an appreciative crowd, pushing up the 50/50, witnessed end-to-end action and offensive highlights from the home team that left the visitors frustrated.
And while the new gates of the home rink took some abuse from departing Bulldogs and Braves, there may be some work yet for the home team.
Saturday’s match against Port Alberni saw the Tyees start slowly, giving up the first goal to a hard working group of Bulldogs before taking the lead for good with two quick goals late in the first, both from Travis Goodwin.
Goodwin’s first goal was set up by Jake McKenzie and Tyler Dickson, while the second was a solo effort, though aided by a strong forecheck by Dickson.
Campbell River once again was the beneficiary of outstanding goaltending, with Michael Sampson holding the Tyees in through some difficult spells, with a memorable “around-the-world” glove save leaving the crowd buzzing.
The second period was all Tyees, featuring Goodwin’s hat trick goal, from McKenzie, who was all over the ice, and two goals off the stick of sniper Tyson Goebel, supported by hard work in all zones by Keaton Dion who had an assist. McKenzie added to his astounding point totals with the final goal of the game, a 6-2 Tyee win.
Sunday’s game against Saanich was a sequel as original as Airplane 2, with the Braves crash-landing in a 8-3 Tyee win.
Travis Goodwin had a four goal night, Jake McKenzie had a goal and four assists, and Tyson Goebel once again finished clinically, set up by Dion.
Darian Swift added an assist, Tyler Dickson finished a great play by McKenzie, and Gage Crawford added a goal on a forty foot slapper to kill the game.
Once again the Tyees scored on turnovers and counter-attacks and finished their scoring chances at a high rate. They were not out-chanced, thanks to hard work by the defense, led by notable efforts from Cole Rennie and Rio Massie, but they were out-shot.
The Tyees will work on their breakout, which will help puck possession, and they will look for consistent offense from outside of the big three third year players McKenzie, Goebel and Goodwin.
Come see the boys this Saturday at the Rod for a 6:15 p.m. start against arch rival Comox Chiefs.