Saturday night at BIG featured two great match-ups in the Bantam A/AA division semifinals of the Midwest Regional.  On the top half of the bracket featured AA powers Bloomington Jefferson and Woodbury, meanwhile on the bottom half of the bracket featured A powers Bloomington Kennedy and Tartan.

Game 1: Jefferson came out and grabbed the early lead, but Woodbury answered late in the first period on a pretty backhand goal past the sprawling Jefferson goalie, Jack Robbel to make it 1-1 after the first period. In the second period. And then in the second period Jarrod Ronquillo (say that three times fast) got loose behind the Jefferson defense and was able to beat Robbel for the eventual game winner. The third period began with Jefferson on the power play.  The Jaguar power play was a microcosm of their entire night – it just never got on track (no passion, no precision). As the third period wore on, both teams got fewer and few good scoring chances. In the final minute, Jefferson pulled Robbel for the sixth attacker but was unable to get the equalizer.  Final Score: Woodbury 2, Jefferson 1.

Game 2: (Note: YHH saw limited action in this game) Kennedy and Tartan are both top ten Bantam A teams in the state.  Both have an impressive list of wins, strong skaters and rock solid goaltending.  YHH predicted a low scoring affair.  And it was. The teams traded regulation goals and many clean hits along the way.  As the game went into overtime, so did the physicality of the game.  Tartan is a big and physical team with two physical specimens in Connor Brass and Derek Sievers.  In the Overtime, Tartan finally ended it on a controversial goal.  The Kennedy faithful thought there was a penalty on the play prior to the game winning goal.  Tartan 2, Kennedy 1, final in Overtime.