Bantams get tie against Lethbridge

By Ryan McCracken on October 9, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The bantam AAA South East Athletic Club Tigers parted the ice with a single point after a 1-1 tie with the Lethbridge Golden Hawks on Saturday at Hockey Hounds Arena — but they were far more concerned about the point they left behind.

Dawson Seitz scored three minutes into the third period to force the draw while goaltender Bodee Weiss turned aside 25 chances to give his team a shot at the win, but head coach Jason Bartram says it’s hard not to see the game as a missed opportunity.

“A wasted point,” said Bartram. “I think this was probably our worst effort of the year. None of us are really thrilled. We had a one-game weekend, we practiced great all week, they were flying around the ice and we thought we were ready and today it looked like maybe we had some late nights (Friday). Our feet weren’t moving. We found a way to get one just to manage a tie against a team that I think we’re very capable of beating.”

The silver lining from Saturday’s draw was the performance of Weiss — a second-year bantam netminder who has provided the Tigers with a chance at the win column in each of his three starts this season.

“He was good. He was square to the shots and seeing everything,” said Bartram. “Being a second-year guy I expect a lot of out Bodee. Building from the back end out, he’s got high expectations. He gives you a chance every day, he just needs the guys in front of him to have to want to go. Today they didn’t do that.”

Lethbridge’s Emanual Hudson logged the lone Golden Hawks goal of the game when he beat Weiss with seven minutes left in the second. Shane Smith and Roman Cherniak picked up the assists on Seitz’s eventual tying marker.

The result fittingly leaves the Tigers in a tie with Lethbridge for the top of the Alberta Major Bantam League’s Ram South Division at 2-2-1 on the year. Thankfully, says Bartram, the Tigers have plenty of time to use Saturday’s disappointing outcome as a learning tool.

“This is an eye-opener for everybody — captains, coaches,” said Bartram. “There was no reason for us not to have any motivation. We’ll get back to work Tuesday to make up for it.”

The Tigers return to Hockey Hounds Arena on Saturday to host the Calgary Royals at 2:15 p.m.

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