DARREN STEINKE - Medicine Hat News
The Burnaby Winter Club Bruins proved they could win with defence.
During the 39th annual Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Major Bantam tournament, the Bruins qualified for the championship game by winning contests with shootout type scores from the 1980s.
In the tournament's title game on Sunday at the Kinplex, the Bruins played more like the New Jersey Devils in their heyday blanking the North Shore Winter Club Winterhawks 4-0. During their five tournament games leading up to the final, the Bruins outscored their opposition 38-18, but the goals allowed were a concern for Burnaby head coach John Batchelor.
The Bruins had to win their semifinal game 9-6 on Saturday night at the Kinplex over Kelowna's Pursuit of Excellence team. Batchelor was pleased with the better defensive effort in the final.
"We know we are capable of playing that way," said Batchelor, who also scouts for the Medicine Hat Tigers. "We score so many goals we get a little carried away at trying to score goals.
"Today, we knew that it was going to be like a game of chess. We couldn't afford to give them (the Winterhawks) any free ice. They have some guys that can snipe pretty good.
"As I said to the kids, a small percentage separates winners from losers and make sure you do the little things on the ice and big things will happen. That was out best game."
Burnaby hit the scoreboard with 2:30 to play in the first period on a goal from Ty Ronning, who is the son of former NHL player Cliff Ronning.
In the second, Burnaby's power play went to work allowing the Bruins to go up 3-0. At the 5:05 mark of the frame Justin Szeto scored from close in to put the Bruins up 2-0.
After the Bruins had a goal disallowed, they went ahead 3-0 thanks to an accurate snipe by forward Mathew Barzal, who fired the puck in low to the shot side of North Shore goaltender Taz Burman.
Nicholas Holowko rounded out the scoring for the Bruins in the third.
Nick McBride made 18 saves to earn the shutout win in goal for Burnaby. Burman turned away 27 shots suffering the loss in goal for North Shore.
"All the guys pulled together, and we came through," said Barzal, who had an assist to go along with his goal in the win. "Our defensive play the last few games hadn't been very good. We really had to step it up today to win the game."
Winterhawks head coach Jim Dinwoodie felt his club ran out of gas on Sunday.
During Saturday's playoff round, the Winterhawks beat two of Alberta's top teams in downing the Edmonton Southside Athletic Club Southgate Lions 5-1 in a quarter-final and the Calgary Bisons 5-2 in the semifinal.
"We played two great teams on (Saturday) and I think emptied our tank a little bit," said Dinwoodie. "We didn't have a lot left.
"We spent far too much time killing penalties. I thought that was a real difference maker
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1 comment:
Congrats to BWC on a great game, thoroughly enjoyed the speed .
I was a little disappointed by not being able to see much of their 3rd line players and obvious back-up goalie.
We understand teams need bodies to play, and BWC had their regular 5 to 6 kids seeing mimal Ice
Is winning over shadowing development or is it still about showcasing and boasting a possible #1 bantam pick at the cost of others.
Good coaches now how to fit in everyone into a game
Congrats on this win, look forward to watching and hearing how this teams season progresses
Play safe, play hard and see you at the rinks
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