The first day of the Bantam Elite League Minor season has come and gone, and like their Major Division counterparts, the first-years may take a game or two to get their legs under them and adjust to the pace of play. 

The Sharks topped the Bolts 4-3 in the opener, with Luke Giuliani potting the Sharks’ first and fourth goals of the game. David Kukkonen and Brody Dietz each chipped in a goal for the Sharks while goaltenders Andrew Lane and Brady Altier combined to stop 21 of 25 shots. Brodie Ziemer, Tanner Zolnosky, and Brody Dustin all scored once for the Bolts. 

Ben Miller scored under six minutes into the first half to give the Kings a 1-0 lead over Team Wisconsin, and followed that score with another 11 seconds into the second frame to help the Kings to a 4-2 win over the boys in red. In addition to Miller’s two goals, Ty Frank scored twice for the Kings, while Eli Kassler and Cade Kozak scored once each for Team Wisconsin. Wisconsin goaltender Logan Hughes impressed between the pipes with 17 saves on 18 shots in the first half. 

The close games took a break for game three, as the North Stars racked up eight goals in the second half of a 9-5 win over the Bruins. Even more stunning, the Stars were down 4-1 with under 20 minutes to play in the game before their eight-goal outburst. Thomas Gunderson, Max Plante, Dallas Vieau, and Grady Magner all record stat lines of two goals and one assist, with the other goal being scored by Noah Urness. Michael Risteau paced all skaters with two goals and four points for the Bruins in the loss. 

Despite a goal from Team North Dakota’s Owen Branson late in the second half, the Bolts rebounded from Friday’s earlier loss with 5-4 shootout win over North Dakota. Brodie Ziemer scored twice in regulation and tallied the only goal in the shootout. Sam Scheetz and Tanner Zolnosky scored single goals for the Bolts. Jake Verwest, Owen Branson, Brooks Siemens, and Zach Boren all scored once for Team North Dakota in the tough loss.