The Quinte Smiles/McCarten Travel/Landtech Design Novice AE
Junior Bulls have been defeated by the Whitby Wildcats in a thrilling 5 game
series in which our team fought and hustled with everything that they
had.
Belleville swept the Napanee Stars in three
straight games by beating them 5-1 in their third meeting. Our team
continued to play disciplined letting the play develop in the offensive
zone. Five different scorers lit the lamp: Isaiah More, Connor Kerik,
Noah Roy, Sam Brearley, and Travis Whitmore. More had two assists while
Kerik, Roy, Whitmore, and Brearley had one each. This win would push the
Bulls into a series against arch nemesis Whitby in the next round.
Game one was in Whitby and our boys played well but failed to show the determination necessary for victory. Whitby is a tough opponent and only by working hard every shift and wanting to win more than them would result in a win. We got down by two early in the first. Whitby scored another at the beginning of the second but was quickly answered with a goal by Isaiah More assisted by Sam Brearley. An unassisted marker by More midway through the third brought us to within one but Whitby quickly answered again with another goal and the game would end 4-2.
Game two the next day in Belleville was a different story. The boys showed up to the rink with purpose and focus. They had a will to win and you could feel it even before they stepped onto the ice. Fans at Rink A were treated to one of our team’s best games all year. And best of all, Whitby played tremendously as well. It was a treat to watch. Action was end to end. Whitby took the lead mid way through the second. Belleville had lots of chances but just couldn't put one into the twine. Early in the third period, however, Connor Kerik popped a power play marker into the net assisted by Isaiah More and Hayden Newson. The game would end in a tie after a ten period overtime. Excellent goaltending by Callum Decker.
Belleville now understood the shift in, shift out type effort it takes to win against really good teams and in Whitby the following Saturday, that is what they got. The game started out great with two goals in one shift my Isaiah More assisted by Zack Goyer and Lukas Smith. Whitby came right back, however, and tied it up by the end of the first. They took the lead by the end of the second, 3-2. The third period was dominated by the Bulls. More completed the hat trick assisted by Ethan Walsh and Reed Andrus. Whitmore got two goals assisted by Noah Roy, Sam Brearley, Andrus, and More. This was the first victory over the Wildcats by the Bulls all season. Needless to say, our team was ecstatic with the outcome. Callum Decker was huge, especially in the second half of the game.
Our Bulls seemed to take a big breath out after our win and forgot to inhale and reset for the next game, the next day. Our boys were slow and uninitiated. Whitby left with a 3-0 win and went home with a 5-3 lead in points. The Novice AE Bulls were now faced with their first elimination game three days later on a Wednesday night in Whitby.
The adrenaline was coursing through our boys. They knew their backs were against the wall and they played desperate all game. It was great to see an early lead which is something of a rarity for us to have and hold onto. Noah Roy scored a quick one eighteen seconds into the game unassisted and Isaiah More threw another one in a couple shifts later. Belleville held on to a 2-1 lead as Whitby was able to score a short handed goal late in the first. Belleville seemed to have control of the game, limiting Whitby’s chances and having lots of chances of their own but they could not capitalize with that most important insurance marker. The wind was knocked out of our collective sails as Whitby tied the game up with sixteen seconds left and their goalie pulled to send it into overtime. The puck sat on the middle of our defensive blue line just inches from getting out and sealing our victory right before it was sent back in for the tying goal. A quick regroup heading into overtime did no good as Whitby scored on the first shift to take the game and the series.
Our boys played so well against a team they had previously never beaten. Everyone should be happy with their effort and excited to take that effort forward into the Lakeshore finals. Next up is a series against Ajax. Game one is on Saturday, March 12 at 6:15 pm in Rink A. Come on out and cheer on your Belleville Quinte Smiles/McCarten Travel/Landtech Design Novice AE Junior Bulls.