The South Bruce Bantams are the 2014 "C" Division International Silver Stick Champions. The International Silver Stick tournament took place in Forest from January 24th to 26th.
The Bantam boys were as strong as the winter wind this past weekend as they went undefeated in the tournament. The team left home on Friday, January 24th just before the storm set in and travelled to Watford for their first game. Their opponent would be Bowling Green, Ohio. It only took 18 seconds for the boys to light up the score board on an unassisted goal by team captain Logan Tolton. It would take a while before any more goals were scored. Bowling Green tied the score with a goal half way through the second period. South Bruce made sure the period ended in their favour scoring again with only 8 seconds left on the clock. This goal was scored by Ayden Tiffin assisted by Mitch Borth and Wes Diemert. The Bantams continued to dominate the play in the third period. Their third goal of the game was scored again by Ayden Tiffin this time assisted by Logan Tolton. To top off the game with 43 seconds left assistant captain Jared Liesemer rushed the net on an unassisted power play goal to give the team a final score of 4 to 1.
The team then travelled up the road to Thedford for their second game of the day. This time they would meet up with Glencoe-Bothwell (Southwest), a team they defeated in the finals of the Georgian Shores tournament earlier in the season. The start of this game was different than the first, with Glencoe-Bothwell getting the first goal less than 2 minutes in. It would take the boys right to the end of the first period to answer the goal. With only 33 seconds left in the period, Logan Tolton scored, assisted by Nick Kieswetter. The second period began similar to the first with the opposition scoring again less than 2 minutes in. However, the Bantams would score twice in the period, with goals from assistant captain Shawn Letteau and Nick Kieswetter both assisted by Ty Turnbull. The boys shone in the third scoring three goals! Two goals were scored by Nick Kieswetter, the first being unassisted and second one was assisted by Ayden Tiffin. This would give Nick a hat trick! The team's final goal would be scored by Logan Tolton, unassisted, giving the team a 6 to 2 victory.
The Bantams took a well deserved rest and hit the ice late Saturday morning once again in Thedford and faced-off against Brooklyn, New York. Our scoring began at the half way mark of the first period on a goal by Nick Kieswetter assisted by Logan Tolton and Shawn Letteau. The boys would scored again before the period ended, this time on goal from Ty Turnbull assisted by Ayden Tiffin and Mitch Borth. Brooklyn would get their first goal of the game half way through the second period. However, the Bantams answered that goal with one of their own, this time on an unassisted goal by Wes Diemert. Team captain Logan Tolton would score before the end of the second period, assisted by Jared Liesemer. After the intermission, Brooklyn quickly scored their second goal, making it a 4 to 2 game. It was nearing the half way mark of the third when South Bruce would cap off the game with a goal scored by assistant captain Jared Liesemer, assisted by Logan Tolton and Mitch Borth. The final score would be 5 to 2, sending the boys to the semi-finals.
The team would take a break for the afternoon before heading to Forest for the semi-final game. The Bantams would meet up with Brock for this semi-final match. This game would prove to be very different, with a total of 17 penalties being assigned to the teams. However, in true South Bruce style, the boys scored 25 seconds into the game on a goal by Logan Tolton, assisted by Nick Kieswetter. Logan and Nick would have repeat performance 30 seconds later to take a 2 to 0 lead within the first minute of game! The team would finish out the period with Jared Liesemer scoring on an assist by Logan Tolton. The second period was a very physical one with each team spending some time in the box. The Bantams would manage a goal this period scored by Jared Liesemer, assisted by Wes Diemert to give the team a 4 to 0 lead going into the intermission. It was in the third period when Brock managed to get one by the South Bruce Goaltender, Zach Girdler. With just over a minute to play, the boys scored on a power play goal by Wes Diemert, assisted by Logan Tolton and Jared Liesemer. The game would end with a final score of 5 to 1 and advance the Bantam to the finals.
The championship game was played in Forest on Sunday afternoon. The game would see the South Bruce Bantams meet up again Glencoe-Bothwell (Southwest Bullets). The team managed their first goal only a few minutes into the game with a goal scored by Logan Tolton, assisted by Rhys Martin. Both teams kept the pressure on, with scoring not resuming until the second period when Logan Tolton would score, assisted by Shawn Letteau. South Bruce would score again on a goal by Ty Turnbull, assisted by Caleb Tolton and Wes Diemert. This gave South Bruce a 3 to 0 lead going into the third, or so we thought! The period ended unexpectedly when the Southwest Bullets scored 2 very quick goals in the last minute of the second period, only 37 seconds apart! The boys come back from the intermission with one thing in mind, the desire for the "silver stick." It only took the Bantams 43 seconds into the third period to get their fourth goal. This goal was scored by Logan Tolton, assisted by Jared Liesemer. This goal would give the South Bruce Bantam team captain a hat trick! The teams kept the pressure up through the third. The Bullets scored again to narrow the lead to 1. But, within two minutes the Bantams would answer the goal with one of their own scored by Nick Kieswetter, assisted by Logan Tolton. The game would end in the 5 to 3 victory and earn the South Bruce Bantam Reps the title of "International Silver Stick Champions - Bantam "C" Division".
The following South Bruce Bantams were recognized by the Silver Stick officials for their efforts. Receiving tournament “All-Star” awards were, Goaltender – Zach Girdler, Forward – Logan Tolton and Defense – Jared Liesemer.
Congratulations to the all the boys on the team, including our injured players, Mac Fischer and Owen Schiestel. Special thanks to parents, extended family members and all the fans who kept tabs on us from the website and especially those who made the trip to Forest.