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Bantam Elite League: Final Weekend, Saturday Recap

By Tony Scott, 09/13/14, 11:45PM CDT

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Down the Stretch, Lots on the Line Come Sunday


Joey Petronack scores with 2 minutes left to give the Wings a huge tie versus the Leafs.

With thirty plus games in the books in the inaugural Bantam Elite League it will come down to the four final games to see who qualifies for the coveted first round bye on Friday night. Especially interested are the parents of the Northern team the Rangers. 

A win Saturday versus the Canadiens would have sealed a first round bye and potentially one less night's stay in Bloomington. Instead the Canadiens knocked off the Rangers 6-3 and sent the Northerner's home hoping for some help on Sunday.

Not one team in the BEL has been consistent or predictable. The last place Blackhawks are perfect example. In the nightcap Saturday, basically left for dead to be last place they beat the Bruins 6-1 who everything to lose with a loss to the Hawks. The Hawks collect their fourth win and with two wins Sunday can find their way into fifth place.

In the first game of the day, the same Bruins team beat BEL contender the Red Wings 7-4. Andy Beran turned away 32 Red Wing shots and was simply marvelous in every way Saturday morning. 

The team with a lot of ground to make up was the Canadiens. Starting the day in the middle of the pack, the Habs came out hard and beating the Leafs 6-0, who were coming off a two win weekend up in Grand Rapids last week. Wayzata's Andrew Urban had his second hat trick of the Bantam Elite season - showing what a valuable player he can be both with the puck or without.

With a lot on the line for both teams, the Leafs and Wings battled hard for 50 minutes in a very tight checking game. Down 2-1 with just under two minutes left, Joey Petronack got a pretty feed from linemate Ray Christy to tie it at 2. The game ended in a tie, mostly due a great performance by the Leafs Isaiah Dilaura who turned away 27 shots.

Speaking of a lot on the line, the Rangers controlled their own destiny for a bye on Friday with a win over the Canadiens. After both teams scored a pair of goals in the first half, K'Andre Miller scored early in the second half and Zach Sjelin added another to give the Habs a 4-2 lead. They never looked back and won 6-3...forcing the Rangers to watch the scoreboard on Sunday.


Isaiah Dilaura with one of his 27 saves Saturday vs. the Red Wings

Saturday's Stars

Ben Almquist, Wings - a catalyst Saturday in both games....found the scoresheet, but most important began to take over the game.

Lewis Crosby, Hawks - had a Hatty for the Hawks in the nightcap.

Andrew Urban, Canadiens - had a Hatty in their first game...gave the Habs energy all day.

Max Eilefson, Canadiens - allowed only one goal on 30 shots.

Mason Salquist, Rangers - had two goals and an assist...not bad for a converted D-Man.

Brady Ziemer, Bruins - inked the scoresheet, but plays the game at a high level. His intensity is unmatched in the BEL.

Jeron Hirschfeld (Hawks) and Bennet Holst (Leafs) - these two saw their first action of the BEL. Both suffered injuries that held them out until this weekend. 

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