Midget A Barons crowned STEP league champions

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Tuesday’s 7-5 win was closer than they were used to, although the score read 4-1 on Thursday, it was also much closer than that. The difference ended up being an early third period insurance goal followed by an empty netter.

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“It was a really tight game – St. Walburg played a really good game,” Gentes said. “It was really a good effort from the whole team because we had four different scorers and we had some first year kids step up with a couple big assists on the first two goals. And then the third year’s rounded out some scoring [and we had] some second year’s scoring, so it was a really gritty effort by the whole team.”

Rett Taggart opened the scoring for the Barons halfway through the first but St. Walburg netted a shorthanded goal with just over three minutes to go in the opening frame.

That, however, was followed by a swift response from Battleford, as Tanner Buchko potted one home from in front to give the momentum back to the visitors.

“We sent out the third line [after St. Walburg scored] and they responded 20 seconds later with the go-ahead goal, so that was huge,” Gentes said. “[We] were really deflated when you give up that late period goal to tie it and the mood on the bench wasn’t too good so that really turned the momentum back in our favour in a hurry.”

With that one goal lead entering the final period, the Barons made sure not to give up too many odd-man rushes by keeping one forward up high in the offensive zone.

But goaltender B.J. Wasmuth was still forced to make a good number of saves, and again and again, he proved he was up to the task.

“He played phenomenal the last half of the game,” Gentes said of Wasmuth’s performance. “When it mattered, in the third period especially, he made some phenomenal saves to keep us ahead.”

Spencer Sack would notch the insurance goal five minutes into the third and captain Cody Kalyn put the icing on the cake with the empty netter.

Now that the season is over, Gentes expressed thanks for the support throughout the year.

“Thanks to the fans and parents for supporting the team and the kids,” he said. “And to the community for supporting us.”

Nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

@NathanKanter11