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NC GOLDEN BEARS U14 GOLD

Regular Season 2018-2019
2018-2019 x Regular Season

Bantams Cap Season, Surge to York Presidents Day Tourney Title!

 

The NC Force Bantams looked to end their amazing season on a high note versus quality competition at the York (PA) President’s Day Tournament.

Game 1 was against Tomorrow’s Ice AA Minor, a new program from Abingdon, MD.  Two first period goals set the tone, and Sammy Hoh stopped 22 of 23 shots to get the Force win #1 by a 3-1 score.

Game 2 was versus the host York Devils.  After a tight 1-1 first period, the team steadily pulled away with a 5-2 win.  Owen Kesler had 22 saves in net.

In Game 3 vs the Long Island Sharks, the Force erupted for 3 goals in the second after a scoreless first, and Glen Farmer sealed the deal with a shorthanded goal in the 3rd.  Sammy Hoh earned the shutout win with 13 saves in the 5-0 win.

Many of the boys enjoyed a post-game trip to Chocolate World in Hershey, followed by Hershey Bears vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL game.

The championship was a re-match against the Sharks.  Every coach knows beating the same team twice back-to-back can be a challenge, and this looked to be true as the Sharks scored early in 1st period.  The team was unable to generate any passing or offense thru 2 periods (too much chocolate perhaps?) but Owen Kesler kept the Force close with stellar goaltending.  What happened next was the NC Force’s version of the Storm Surge:  twelve seconds into the 3rd, Farmer broke the ice, quickly followed by goals by Brian Pencola and Julien Mouney.  The Sharks scored to get to 3-2, but Ross Jones delivered the dagger at the 2:19 mark, quickly followed by two more tallies by Farmer and Mouney.  With the 6-2 win, the boys brought home their second championship of the year (in addition to running away with the CHL Bantam A regular season title with an undefeated record).

Glen Farmer was named the obvious Tourney MVP, scoring the first Force goal in all four games, and netting 9g-2a for the tourney.  The defense, led by James Marshall and Jordy Hughes, was tenacious and aggressive, and the tendies allowed only 5 goals all weekend.

The Bantams, with 10 returning players, completed an amazing turnaround from 2017-18, when the team WON only 5 games, to a season where they LOST only 4 games, with 2 of the losses vs AA major teams.   Those dozen or so bad losses last year now seem like decades ago.

Glen Farmer posted a jaw-dropping 119 points (81g-38a) but was hardly a one man show, as the Force averaged almost 8 goals a game.  Carter Bestafka finished with 41 goals despite missing the last 7 games due to injury, and Caleb Burchett, Nick Nolan, Pencola and Mouney all had at least 20 goals.  The defense improved steadily through the year and the goaltending tandem was balanced and effective.

Congratulations to all the team members and coaches for an outstanding season!

 

Bantams take Hemby Fall Classic

The NC Force Bantams traveled into Charlotte for the Hemby Fall Classic with an undefeated record but not sure of its compete level against top teams.  Game 1 was against the Atlanta Center Ice and proved to be classic.  The Force fell behind early but rallied from 3 goals down, not once but twice (0-3, 2-5).  Brian Pencola had 2 third period goals, and Glen Farmer hammered home the game winner at the 1:43 mark.  The Force finished the last 1:20 killing a penalty with an empty opposing net. 

Game 2 later that night was more restful, as the Force easily put away the St. James Club, a new program out of Springfield VA.  Farmer had 3 goals and an assist.  Owen Kesler stopped 17 of 18 shots.

With almost an entire Saturday to kill, many Force-mates visited Top Golf and punished Canes owner Tom Dundon’s facility with a torrent of laser-guided shots.

Saturday night’s Game 3 was against the Pineville Falcons, a team in the CHL Upper A division.  Sammy Hoh kept Pineville off the scoreboard until a power play goal late in the third period.  Carter Bestafka had 2 goals and an assist in the 6-1 win.

The Force went into Sunday morning’s game in great shape, only needing a tie or better vs. the Nashville Flyers to ensure advancement.  There was no hesitation or let down as the Force confidently cruised to another 6-1 win.   Kesler stopped 18 of 19 shots and Bestafka again tallied twice.

The championship would be a re-match with the Atlanta Center Ice team.  Our boys struck first and hard, getting out to a 3-0 lead.  Bestafka had three goals including two of the early goals, to set the tone, and Ross Jones had 2 identical backhand goals.  Hoh saved 21 of 25 shots, and Farmer notched 2 goals and an assist, in bringing home the championship banner.

To summarize the weekend, the Bantams played aggressive hockey, getting points from 15 different players while getting stout defensive and goalie support.  Caleb Burchett and Julien Mouney also had strong tournaments, with 6 and 5 points respectively.

Revenge will be on the Bantams' mind this weekend, as they head to Roanoke, a place last year’s team got punished badly, in an effort to go an incredible 12-0 to start the season.

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