Brantford Bandits ended the calendar year with a 3-2 loss to the Caledon Bombers in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) action on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
Both teams came out tentatively to start this tightly-contested affair, spending the opening minutes battling in the neutral zone. The teams continued to battle hard but couldn’t create a lot of scoring chances through the opening ten minutes. As the period progressed, things opened up as the Bandits and Bombers created some scoring opportunities but both goalies held their respective teams in the game. After 20 minutes, the teams were tied at zero, with both clubs recording six shots on goals.
The Bandits came out soaring to start the second stanza, peppering Bombers goalie Calem Yorke early and often, which led to the Bandits scoring the opening goal just over five minutes in as Tyron Fevry scored his ninth goal of the season. Brantford continued on the attack for most of the rest of the period, firing 18 second-period shots on Yorke but it was the Bombers that got the equalizer with less than five minutes remaining as the teams head into the second intermission tied at one.
Brantford continued to go on the attack in the final frame, taking chances and getting scoring opportunities but couldn’t regain the lead. Caledon responded with some chances of their own but Bandits goalie Dylan Dewachter stood strong. The teams remained knotted at a goal apiece until the middle of the third period.
The Bombers capitalized on the last of their four powerplay opportunities when Ryan Tackaberry beat Dewachter to give his team a 2-1 lead. Caledon kept up the pressure and, under 90 seconds later, added another one to take a 3-1 lead.
The Bandits kept pushing in an effort to get back in it and they added one late but couldn’t get the equalizer as they fell 3-2 to the Bombers.
Brantford dominated most of the play and outshot the visitors 40-18 in the loss.
The Bandits will take some time to enjoy the Christmas break before resuming their season on Thursday, January 4, 2024 when they travel to Ayr to take on the Centennials.
