Bantam Hounds fall in Steel City championship

With the tank on empty, the Soo Bantam Greyhounds came to a rolling stop at the 25th Annual Steel City International Hockey Tournament.

On Sunday afternoon at the John Rhodes Community Centre, the Greyhounds fell 4-1 to Traverse City Pepsi in the Bantam AAA Minor championship game.

Facing a big and speedy team in Traverse City, the Greyhounds had a tough time gaining momentum and shutting down Pepsi's Eric Rivard, who lit up the scoreboard with a three goal effort.

Rivard opened the scoring in the first period but the Hounds' Nick Romano answered back five minutes into the second period.

With the Greyhounds in penalty trouble late in the period, Rivard and Lucas Stricker scored with the man advantage to take the steam out the Soo. Rivard completed the hat trick late in the third period.

"We were a little tired," said Bantam Hounds head coach Dom DeLuca Jr. "We have some nagging injuries to some crucial guys and I think the six games took its toll on us today. Nothing against the other team. They were the better team and they had much more jump.

"I thought they utilized their speed very well and they have some big shots on the back end. The biggest thing was their jump and forecheck. They had more energy than us.

"I have to take the blame for the one power play goal (resulting from a bench minor). We work so hard on trying to keep discipline and then I blew my top a bit on the bench."

Greyhounds goaltender Dustin Christie, a Blind River product, made several big stops throughout to keep his team close and was named the Soo's game star.

"(Christie) has been outstanding for us all year," said DeLuca. "We didn't know much about him coming into the season. He played AA in Sudbury last year but he came in and has been nothing but an excellent goalie from the first day of camp."

The Hounds advanced to the final with a 6-3 win over the Northern Ice Cats in the semi-finals. Brian Nanne scored a pair for the Greyhounds while David Quesnele, Brent Hurley, Jarrett Krancevich and Tyler Pearse added singles.

"We had a very good weekend. It was kind of a coming out for these guys and getting to the next level. We are realizing that we are a pretty solid hockey team," added DeLuca.

*** BLACKHAWKS FALL IN BANTAM AA FINAL:

The Blueliners Blackhawks dropped a 4-2 decision to Tagg's Fort Frances in the Bantam AA championship game at the Rankin Arena.

Fort Frances needed two goals in a span of 1:10 in the third period from Joe Basaraba and Mitch Cain to break a 2-2 tie.

After Tagg's went ahead 2-0 in the first period on goals by D.J. Bombay and Matt DePiero, Blueliners came swarming back in the second frame as Joel McCauley and Dylan Marshall on the power play scored less than a minute apart.

The Blackhawks advanced to the championship game with a 5-1 win over Keweenaw in the semi-finals. Tyler Tornabuono scored two goals for the locals while singles went to Brandon Coccimiglio, Jake Buller and Marshall.

*** BANTAM AAA MAJOR:

In the championship game at the Rhodes, Jeff Barden scored the lone goal in the second period on the power play to lift the Green Bay Jr. Gamblers to a 1-0 win over the Timmins Technosub Rangers. Tony Kujava recorded the shutout.

GAME PHOTOS WILL BE ADDED.