The Strathcona Toyota Midget Tyees returned to the ice this weekend with the Saanich Braves providing the opposition on Saturday.
The crowd on hand at the “Brindy” was treated to a fast-paced, hard hitting, entertaining game. The Braves didn’t allow the long drive up the Island to affect their start. They jumped on the Tyees early, peppering the Tyee net with shots.
Goalie Carson Borgfjord was up to the challenge, keeping the game close, allowing his teammates to find their skating legs. Early in the second, Liam Rivett picked up a loose puck while shorthanded and deked the Saanich goalie and tucked it five-hole. This goal seemed to energize the hometown boys and turned the momentum in their favor.
The second and Third periods were an amazing demonstration of Midget hockey; both teams were very skating hard, moving the puck effectively, and playing the body at every opportunity.
Sage Lim brought the crowd to their feet late in the second, when he finished off a very nice passing play on a 5-on-3 power play. Saanich was able to capitalize on their few chances, and opened up a 3-2 lead after two. The Tyees dominated the third period, trying everything in their power to net the equalizer. Unfortunately, the comeback was not meant to be. Saanich hit the empty net to seal the victory 4-2
On Sunday, the Tyee caravan made their way South to Nanaimo for a date with the tier 1 Clippers.
The Tyees continued their strong play of late, taking the body and forcing the Nanaimo defense to cough up the puck.
The visitors opened the scoring near the end of the first with a pretty goal. Lucas Lund dangled a Clippers D-man and slid a sweet pass to the back door and found Brady Kratzmann for the tap in.
Tyler Dickson was nothing short of excellent in this contest. Mid way through the second, he ripped a wrist shot passed the Nanaimo goalie, for his first goal of the night to tie it at two, the assist going to Owen Boyd.
The Tyees would take the lead on another sweet feed from Lund, this time setting up Sage Lim breaking to the net, and beating the goalie through the 5 hole. At the five-minute mark of the second period, Dickson gets back in the action as he picked up his own rebound and slides it past the helpless keeper, 4-3 Tyees.
The Tyees continue to pressure and move the puck with precision. Matt Barker made the pass of the game as he faked a slapshot from the slot and slid the puck to a wide-open Dickson; who made no mistake and buried the puck to complete the hat trick. Nanaimo would not go away quietly, as they rallied in the final 10 minutes, taking advantage of a tired opponent to scratch out a tie 5-5.
“I’m pleased with the boys this weekend, we played two tough, tier 1 teams and could have won both games, if the bounces went our way. The team is really starting to gel lately and it’s showing on the ice, we’re playing much better as a five-man unit.
It takes time for the boys to learn to trust each other and play for each other,” said head Coach Brent Cross.