Tier 2 Wrap Up!

For the championship team picture please click on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157301124920422&set=gm.10157310349575584&type=3&theater

This years Tier 2 division saw both Easton Fection and the Reapers heads above the pack as the Huskies team took 3 steps back losing 1/3 of their roster from previous years and as a result struggled mightly, as did the Tier 3 summer champions from last year (Bombers) who found out that competeing at this level required not only more depth but also a more determined to show line-up on a regular basis than they were able to feild.

The Reapers led the way as they followed up their Winter season championship with a spectacular season which saw them go with out a regulation loss into the 19th game before finally tasting defeat at the hands of Easton Fection.  However hot off a championship and a fantastic regular season the Reapers were more than ready for the post season and their first round opponent (Bombers).  Easton Fection who have done nothing but succeed since joining the LBHA felt once again they were ready to make the jump to another Tier and as a result were hyped up and ready to battle their way to it, first up for them would be the Huskies.

Reapers-Bombers Game #1 showcased a hard fought battle that saw the Bombers show up with their "A" squad to prove to themselves as much as anyone eles that they did indeed belong in this tier.  As a result they managed to take it to the Reapers early and led for good chunks of this game over their heavily favored opponent.  Reapers team Captain Iain Downes however was not letting their first play off game go with out a fight and subsequently tied things up late forcing this one to go to over time.  Early into the OT frame, Reaper forward TJ Bowman blasted a shot on net and right as it appeared the whistle would be blown for a stoppage, a bizzar turn of events saw the Bombers goalie (Pelley) stand up (unsure of where the ball was) while Downes swooped in and calmly pulled the ball out from between Pelley's legs and collectively tucked the ball into the yawning cage to salvage the win for the Reapers and in doing so, crush the hearts of the Bombers who had to know the mountain they were climbing just got infinitley larger....... Game #2 of this series saw a drastically depleated line-up for the Bombers and it woudld show in the results of this one as they were quickly down 4-0 after one and would exit this seasons playoffs by losing in a 7-0 route in which they were outshot 27-6.  Tough year for the Bombers who still have great potential but who will need to address some roster and commitment issues moving forward.

Easton Fection-Huskies Game #1 saw the Huskies muster up pretty much the best team they could for this one (minus 1 or 2 guys)  and early on it made zero difference as they quickly fell behind 2-0..... the veteren laced team of the Huskies however was not about to just roll over and hand it to the more talented and energized kids of Easton Fection.  Husky goaltender (Krieger) kept his team in it despite being badly outshot 17-8 in the first, this allowed for his squad to tie things up before the first period had completed and let the Easton boys know this game was far from over just yet.  With that said, Easton took very little time to regain the lead when given an early period PP oppertunity in the 2nd as they quickly capitolized to once again take the lead (3-2).  After this goal we saw both teams trade chances for the next 8 minutes with both goaltenders looking sharp until a poorly timed penalty by Husky forward (Wallace) tipped the scales back in Easton Fection favor.  The Huskies actually did a good job killing most of this penalty and roughly half way through it found themselves with their young star rookie(Vanstone) all alone from the blueline in for a chance to tie things short handed but Vanstone was bettered by Easton netminder (Harrimon-Duke) who turned away the scoring chance and allowed for his team to go back the other way and burry the hatchet in the backs of the Huskies as defenseman (Blais) potted the PP goal and took any remaining wind from the Husky sails with just over 5 minutes to go in the game.  A late goal would be added and a 5-2 victory in the books for Easton Fection........Game #2 would see a unplanned and illadvised shortened bench for the Huskies who were already finding it tough to hang with the faster more talented Easton team.  To the Huskies credit however, they played an even better first period this game then they did in game one as they matched thier opponent chance for chance until once again a penalty would be their demise.  Blais again would be the Easton player weilding the axe as he potted the late PP marker to give his boys the 1-0 lead after 1.  Things quickly came unravelled for the Huskies after the opening frame as Easton Fection loaded the net with 4 goals in the first 6 minutes of the 2nd period leaving no doubt that they planned to push on to the Tier 2 finals!  The game would end in a 7-0 route as the Huskies seemingly packed it in early (and or ran out of gas) and on top of the lop sideded scorboard they were also badly outshot 12-3 in the second.  This was already a rebuilding year for the Huskies but the playoffs exploited the fact that much work will need to be done over the fall/winter if this team is to continue to compete at the Tier 2 level.  Easton on the other hand looked great and well on their way to better things ahead including a Championship Finals with the Reapers.

Easton Fection-Reapers Game #1 had the pace and intensity of a tier 1 playoff game and rightfully so as these two teams not only proved they could hang with any tier 1 team throughout the regualar season they also defeated most of them as well.  The Reapers would take 3 seperate leads in this one only to see Easton Fection scratch and claw their way back each and every time until it was evident that only Over Time was going to solve this one. Unfortunatley for the Reapers it was a similar hand that fed them in their previous serious that came back to bite them in this one....as a seemingly harmless shoot in on Goaltender (Gonyou) looked to be controlled and on it's way to being covered was quickly pulled out by speedy Easton Fection forward (Lyttle) and deposited in the emty basket.  It was an exciting win for the Easton Boys and and heartbreaking loss for the Reapers, how would each respond for game #2?........Game #2 saw 5 Reaper players as well as their goaltender suit up directly after a hard fought tier 1 loss with their secondary team the Generals while Easton was fresh and anxious to get going!  Easton took the lead early in this one as Mitch Morin bulged the twine to give his team the early edge on assists from his brother Jake and line mate B. Thompson.  The rest of the first was very even and the shots reflected that with a slight 10-9 edge going to the Reapers.  Aggression would pick up dramatically in the second period and the Easton Fection squad who has a history with being undiciplined in this area found themselves 2 men down for a full 2 minutes a third of the way through the 2nd.  Easton however fended off the pressing Reapers squad with a great PK and continued to hold on to their slim 1-0 lead.  The Reapers would continue to press but could not solve the steller goaltending of (Harrimon-Duke) who nailed the door shut and sealed the championship with a shut out and and eventual 2-0 win as an empty netter was added very late in the game.

The Reapers fall short after a fantastic year of action in the LBHA which has seen them throw together back to back successful seasons (winter & summer) and due to their winter sucess will test their skills at the the tier 1 level this coming fall/winter season.  Good Luck to the Reapers team moving forward......Easton Fection who have just completed their 4th Summer Season in the LBHA and have reached the finals at every level they have played will now find themselves on the "Highway to Hell" as only 1 team (Generals) have been able to adequitly compete and sustain a team at the tier 1 level after moving up from tier 2 in the last 10+ years.  This will not be an easy road for the Easton Fection team but they appear certainly eager for the challenge!  Good luck to this young squad at the Provincial Championships in Peterborough (Aug.19-21) as well as next summer as we hope to see them around at a high level for years to come.  As for the remaining two teams from this years tier 2 we hope that they can regroup in time for next season and with the addition of Broad Street Bullies they can fortify a solid Tier 2 set of teams who continuously strive to climb the ladder to Tier 1.