The second day of play in the Bantam Elite League saw three consecutive competitve games. Unlike Saturday, all of the games were close and the intensity seemed to be even higher. All three games were nailbiters, one had an empty net goal (Leafs over Canadiens), one had a buzzer beater (Bruins over Hawks) and one had a mad scramble at the buzzer (Wings over Leafs).
Nathan Johannes scores for the Leafs.
Connor Bizal scores for the Canadiens early in the Second Half.
After the first day of play, two teams that stood out were the Leafs and Canadiens. Both had standout players in their rotation, some size and a solid defensive corps. From the first face off, the game was high energy and full of action. The Canadiens scored first when STMA's Zach Sjelin hopped on a rebound in front of the Leafs net to give the Habs a 1-0 lead. The Leafs would answer right back when Jefferson's Nathan Johannes would bury a pretty pass from Prior Lake's Preston Underhill to tie it 1-1. A couple minutes later, OMG's Matt Jaglo would sneak past a Canadien defender and beat Max Eilefson to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead. At the end of the first, Tonka's K'Andre Miller would feed a streaking Luke Mountain who went in one on one with Evan Redepennig. Mountain would fake left and beat Redepenning five hole to tie the score at 2 heading into the break.
The second half was high intensity. Both teams began to play the body more and more. Early in the second half District 10's Soren Frakie (Blaine) fed District 10's Connor Bizal (Elk River) and he buried it back door to give the Canadiens a 3-2 lead. But Johannes would answer again for the Leafs. He streaked past a defender and beat Cameraon Smrekar to tie it at 3. That was the first of three goals in three minutes for the Leafs. Jack Olsen would score and then Austin Pratt would add to his league leading total to give the Leafs a 5-3. Zach Sjelin would add a goal for the Canadiens to make the game intersting the last seven minutes. The Habs would pressure, but never be able to equalize. Laudon Poellinger would score on the empty net to seal the win for the Leafs
Andy Beran with a Glove Save
The Sandwich Game showcased the most drama of the day. A game with eight lead changes, several near misses, goals disallowed and much more. But the greatest drama of the day was late in the game with the score tied and the Blackhawks shorthanded, Devlin McCabe won a loose puck and Payton Matsui scored with six seconds remaining to give the Bruins the 5-4 win.
McCabe ended the game with 2 goals and an assist. His first goal was a picture perfect rush where he beat Hawks Goalie Jacob Sibell short side top shelf. The pretty goals were few and far between in this game. Most goals were second and third chance grinder goals. Including the last two prior to the Game Winner by Matsui. Mounds View's Joe Sutton got a loose puck in front and he buried it to give the Bruins a 4-3 lead, but Centennial's Lucas McGregor would answer with just under three minutes to go.
Andy Beran would turn away 15 of 17 shots and get the win in nets for the Bruins.
The Red Wings knocked off the Hawks Sunday, but would need a great team effort to beat the Leafs who came in to Sunday's game 2-0 and looked invincible. After both teams got early goals they likely didn't deserve, the game really picked up in energy. Midway through the first half, Luverne's Jaxon Nelson fed a pretty back door pass to Aaron Grounds who one timed it past Leaf Goalie Evan Redepenning to give the Wings a 2-1 lead. After Eastview's Nate Bordson scored to make it 3-1 Wings, Austin Pratt answered right back 30 seconds later on a rifle of a shot that beat Ben Beattie on the glove side. The Wings kept battling and getting pucks to the net. With three minutes left in the half, Nelson got a loose puck in front of the net and stuffed it home to give the Wings a 4-2 lead at the break.
The Leafs would answer in the second half when Chase Foley would tip in his second goal of the game for the Leafs to cut the lead to 4-3. Late in the game, the Wings took a penalty and the Leafs pulled their Goalie to set up a 6-4 advantage. Two different times the Leafs had loose pucks, but both times Nick Konkel came up big for the Wings and they held on for the 4-3 win.
Nick Konkel with a Glove save.
Wings' Ben Beattie with a big save.
1. Jaxon Nelson, ('00, Luverne) - besides all of the obvious tools, one completely undervalued trait of Nelson is his ability to see the ice and pass the puck...1G/1A.
2. Austin Pratt, ('99, SSM) - great combination of skill and grit...had 2G/1A.
3. Devlin McCabe, ('00, SPA) - has the ability to take over a game on every shift. Great lateral movement and knack for racking up points...2G/1A.
4. Ben Beattie, ('00, Eastview) - after giving up a soft goal early, Beattie fought back and made some game changing saves in the first half for the Wings.
Dawson Klein ('00, Lakeville) - Leafs Defender continues to impress with his mobility, puck handling and quick release.
Andy Beran, ('00, St. Paul) - Bruins Goalie made some big stops against major Blackhawks pressure in the second half.
K'Andre Miller ('00, Minnetonka) - hard to call a player of Miller's caliber unsung, but he does so many things that help his team that don't show up on the scoresheet.
Lewis Crosby ('99, Edina) - plays with a reckless abandon, one fan described Crosby as a menace. Plays every shift as if it's his last.
Tyler Dingmann ('99, Wayzata) - had a bone crushing hit on Wayzata's Andrew Urban.
