Brantford Ice Cats defeated the Lakeshore Lightning in U-22 house league action during the Walter Gretzky Tournament on Friday, February 24, 2023.
The Ice Cats started off strong at the beginning of the first, keeping their players in the offensive zone. Just past the eight-minute mark, the Ice Cats received a minor penalty leading them to make a shorthanded goal with 15 seconds left in the powerplay. The two teams began covering equal ground before the Lightning’s pushed their way into the offensive zone and kept the Ice Cats on their heels. With six seconds left of the first, Brantford forward Josie MacLean made a last-ditch effort at a breakaway but to no avail.
With the game score at 1-0, both teams started the second by picking up the pace and playing in the middle for the first two minutes. The Lightning’s pushed forward to stay on the attack in the offensive zone before scoring their first goal just before the seven-minute mark. Brantford was quick to turn it around, putting the pressure in the Lightning zone during the last four minutes of the second and scoring twice, bringing their lead to 3-1.
Both teams meant business to start the third period, battling in the neutral zone for most of the opening three minutes. The hometown team received their first and only penalty for tripping and spent the next two minutes fighting for a penalty kill. In the final minutes of the game the Lightning’s pulled their goalie for another player on the ice but couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage and Brantford ended the game 3-1.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
