Midget Jets down a game in All-Ontario finals

March 16, 2016

The Bierworth family was honoured at the North Hastings arena Saturday night just before Bancroft’s Bierworth Readi-Mix Bantam Jets took the ice to start their All-Ontario finals series. The Bierworths have sponsored teams for 45 years. In the photo: Bob and Carl Bierworth with Bancroft Minor Hockey president Becky Cooney and team captain Brody Cooney.

Let’s just say that the Bancroft Boyer Group Midget Jets didn’t play the best hockey of their season when the All-Ontario CC Finals opened on Saturday night. The Ilderton team from the London area, also named the Jets, in the end coasted to a 4-1 victory.

Coach Duane Wiltshire summed up the game succinctly. “We needed to get some good bounces. As it was, they capitalized on their chances, and we didn’t.”

A spectator who has played in an All-Ontario midget final ventured that nerves were a factor with both teams. “Suddenly you’re the centre of attention of a very large crowd; it can upset your focus.” The arena was certainly full on Saturday, with at least 600 cheering spectators. Both teams, which played very well to reach the Ontario final, made mistakes they wouldn’t normally make. Most of the goals came on turn-overs in the team’s own end. For long stretches, the game was scrambly and lacked play development.

Still, there were opportunities, especially when Bancroft’s Caleb Trotter buried a great shot to pull the team to a 2-1 score. However, Ilderton quickly came back with a goal of its own, and the game didn’t seem close after that.

Coach Wiltshire feels optimistic that the team’s play will improve when the series picks up in Ilderton this weekend. “We play a simple game based on hard work,” he stated. “We will keep working hard, and hope for the best.”

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