The Brantford 99ers ended their five game losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Georgetown Raiders in Ontario Junior Hockey League action on Thursday, March 17.
The teams took their time getting acquainted in the opening minutes of the first period, exchanging puck possession multiple times in the neutral zone.
The Raiders got the first power play of the game, but Brantford’s penalty kill units clicked early.
After the penalty was killed off, the teams continued to battle but neither had great chances.
The 99ers heated up near the end of the period, throwing shots on net. The game remained scoreless heading into first intermission.
The second period kicked off with a brief power outage in the arena, just over a minute into play. After the lights came back, the 99ers caught the Raiders off guard to take a 1-0 lead.
The home team kept their momentum after the goal, seeing multiple big chances in front of Georgetown’s net. Minutes later, quick passes between Brantford forwards tricked Raiders goalie Sebastian Labora to extend the 99ers lead to 2-0.
During a power play, Raiders forward Dennis Golovatchev was called for interference. As he was headed to the penalty box, he pushed 99ers forward Ethan Klemen to the ice before yelling at officials and the timekeeper. He was given two game misconducts for inciting an opponent and abuse of officials before being ejected from the game.
The Raiders continued to show their frustrations after the penalty was killed, getting rough around the net after whistles.
After each team received a cross-checking penalty, the Raiders scored to cut the lead in half.
Georgetown had a chance to tie up the game during another Brantford penalty, but were unable to get past the 99ers penalty kill units at the end of the second.
Trailing 2-1, the Raiders dominated the opening minutes of the third, not allowing for the 99ers to change.
Once the 99ers broke out of their end and were able to get fresh legs, they began to see a number of chances of their own. They regained their two goal lead with a tap in right in front of the net.
The Raiders battled hard after the goal but 99ers goalie Ben Bonisteel stood tall to set his team up to extend their lead to 4-1.
Brantford held off Georgetown, running down the clock in the second half of the third. The 99ers added one more goal to the score, just shy of the 18 minute mark to set the score at 5-1.
Tensions boiled over seconds after the goal and gloves were dropped off the face off after a cross check on a Brantford player, in front of the 99ers bench.
Two players were given roughing penalties and were ejected from the game, while the 99ers finished the last two minutes of the game on the power play.
The 99ers ran down the clock and celebrated their 5-1 win. Bonisteel was named first star of the game with a 35-save performance.
