Novice Jets almost let one get away
Posted By Ken MacPherson
Posted 2 months ago
For the second straight week, the Bancroft Jan Woodlands novice Jets have let a visiting team back into the contest after dominating the middle period. On Nov. 14, at the North Hastings Community Centre, the Jets lead 8-3, in the centre stanza, against the North Frontenac Flyers, only to watch the black-and-orange claw their way back, to make the game close (8-6).
On Nov. 20, the Napanee Stars made the trip north of Highway 7, and found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-1 count mid-way through the game. But they added one before the break, and two more in the final period on their way to a 4-4 draw.
Napanee claimed territorial advantage early in the game, but were unable to engineer any legitimate scoring opportunities.
And, up a player, with Christopher Poste in the box for tripping, Napanee had the best chance to open the scoring, but Bancroft turned the tables on them with a short-handed marker. Ben McCormack capitalized on a rebound with the goal keeper out of position after Carter Thrower did all the work by setting up the play and getting the initial shot.
The Stars took advantage of some open ice, at 9:52, on a four-on-four situation that left the game tied at the end of the first period.
Bancroft won a faceoff to the right of the Napanee keeper at 3:06 of the second period. The puck went directly back to (8) who fired a wrist shot that ended up being his second goal of the contest. They extended their lead at 4:40, when Jack Kauffeldt scored on the first shot on Napanee's back up keeper, who came into play just 27 seconds earlier on a routine lineup change.
Christopher Poste spotted Bancroft a three-goal lead on a wrist shot from the slot on a breakaway at 7:27.
Then Napanee, started their comeback.
They scored with eight seconds left in the second period, and added even strength goals at 1:20 and 9:33 of the third period. The last one came when the Jets defense failed to pick up a trailing attacker.
Bancroft failed to score on either of its power play opportunities, but got one short-handed marker.
Napanee converted once on three tries with the man advantage.
Bancroft plays in Campbellford on Nov. 27 at 6:30, before returning to NHCC for a tilt with the Prince Edward County Kings on Nov. 28. It will be the first meeting of the season between the two. Game time is 2:30 p.m. They finish their home-and-home set on Sunday at 2 p.m in Wellington.
