BANTAM FURY - STAYNER TOURNY CONSOLATION FINALISTS

On Saturday, June 14 the Mason Homes Bantam Fury headed to Stayner to play in the annual Stayner Hitmen Fair Play Tournament and came home as the consolation finalists.

The boys must have been suffering from the long 2 hour drive and still a bit asleep as in their first game, they were outplayed badly for the first two periods by one of their Zone 6 nemesis, the Markham Thunder. By the end of the 2nd period, Markham had built up a 6 goal lead, and then even though the team played a much better 3rd period, were unable to overcome the early deficit, and loss by a final score of 8-1. Scoring the lone Mason Homes goal was Zac Gilmore, with assists going to Brad Gerrow and Devin Jordan. Goalie, Mackenzie Langford did his best to keep the game close, but the lack of a good start made it tough to come back.

Then, it was win game 2 against North Perth or come home. The boys came out flying and looked like a totally different team in the 2nd game. The little chat that Coach Hough had with the boys after game 1, must have sank in. The boys played much better at both ends of the floor. Both teams were evenly matched, and this made for a very entertaining game for the fans to watch. But, what has become the typical start for the Fury, they allowed North Perth to win the opening face off and march down the floor and score the games opening goal, just 14 seconds into the game, before a startled Fury goaltender, Josh ONeill. After O'Neill shook off that early goal, he and the team both settled down, and took it to the opposition. By the end of the 1st period, the Fury had scored 3 unaswered goals and the period ended 3-1 in their favour. Scoring for the Fury were Thomas Weber, Jason McCoy and Riley Smith, with assists going to Smith, Gilmore, Weber, and goaltender O'Neill. The 2nd period went end to end and the Fury took a 3 goal lead, when Evan Connolly scored, assisted by Thomas Weber. The Fury held the two goal lead until the last 3 minutes of the 2nd, when a defensive breakdown, allowed the North Perth team back in the game with 2 quick goals. The 2nd period ended with the Fury up by one, leading 4-3. The 3rd period started, and both teams had many great scoring chances, but both goalies played well in keeping the game a one goal affair. With less then a minute to go in the 3rd, and trailing by 1 goal, the North Perth coach called a time out and pulled his goalie. When play resumed, there was just 56 seconds to go. The Fury set up to play great defence and forced the North Perth team to turn the ball over and when the loose ball was picked up, it was in the stick of Riley Smith who ran the length of the floor and scored his 2nd goal of the game into the empty net, giving the Fury the 5-3 victory. Not only did this win put them into the consolation championship, but was also the teams 1st victory of the 2008 lacrosse season.

The consolation final would be played against the team the Fury defeated last year to win the Pee Wee Ontario Championship, the team from Orangeville. Again, the boys started flat and goalie Mackenzie Langford was pounded with shots early and numerous breakaways, before the game was even 5 minutes old. He did a great job holding the Fury in the game, and by the end of the 1st period the score was 3-1 in favour of Orangeville. The lone Fury goal was scored by Devin Jordan, unassisted. The 2nd period was a much closer period as the Fury fought hard to get back into the game, and at the 10 minute mark narrowed the margin to 1 goal, as Evan Connolly scored, assisted by Brad Gerrow to make the score 3-2. Then just 2 minutes later, the Fury knotted the score at 3-3, on a goal by Brad Gerrow, assisted by Sam McGriskin and Devin Jordan. But, with just 2 minutes to go in the period the Orangeville team scored, and the period ended with the score in their favour 4-3. The 3rd period began with the Fury taking it to Orangeville, and they were awarded for their pressure with a goal by Thomas Weber, assisted by Evan Connolly and Jacob Halsall, evening the game up at 4-4. The play went back and forth, with both goalies making key saves and keeping the game tied, but with just a shade over 7 minutes to go the Orangeville team scored to take a 5-4 lead. The Fury tried hard to even up the score, but in the end the boys lost the consolation game by a score of 5-4.






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