Bantam Thunder draw first blood in playoffs
puck control - Tristan Martin, of the Claresholm Bantam Thunder hockey team, looks for someone to pass to against Pincher Creek at the Claresholm Arena on Feb. 24. Photo by Rob Vogt
By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
The Claresholm Bantam Thunder have taken a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three first-round playoff series in the Tier-4 South Division of the Central Alberta Hockey League.
The Thunder hosted Pincher Creek on Saturday, Feb. 24, skating away with a 5-0 victory.
Michael Billyard opened the scoring just 46 seconds into the game with an unassisted marker, then added another unassisted effort nine minutes later to give the Thunder all they needed for the win.
Taking that 2-0 lead into the second period, Claresholm pounced again, this time Colten Symens scored on a set-up from Tyvan Rae to make the score 3-09 after two periods.
Brandon Creighton would strike 24 seconds into the third period, assisted by Billyard to make the score 4-0.
With just under three minutes to play, Brady Lehman wrapped up the scoring on the power play, assisted by Brenndon Mackin and Jack Austin to make the final score 5-0.
Goaltender Jaylen Martineau turned aside 19 shots for the shut out and win in net.
The game was initially scheduled for Friday night, Feb. 23, but part of the highway in the Pincher Creek area was closed.
Game 2 is set for Friday, March 2, in Pincher Creek at 7:30 p.m.
If a third game is necessary, it would be Sunday, March 4, in Claresholm at 1 p.m.