Bantam B Tigers stay undefeated en route to Presidents Day tournament title
Winning is becoming the norm for Colorado Springs’ Bantam B Tigers hockey team.
The local squad scored four first-period goals en route to a 5-0 win over the Oklahoma City Oil Kings in the division finals of the Presidents Day Tournament at the World Arena’s Olympic rink on Monday. Scott Sullivan had a goal and two assists to lead the Tigers, who are undefeated and have three tournament titles in 2015.
“We played well today,” Sullivan said. “We pass well, play defense well and back-check hard. We’re a skill-filled team that has good stick handlers, and we’ve got depth all around.”
The Tigers outshot Oklahoma City 29-17 and used effective passing and methodical teamwork to dominate the possession battle. Kyle Martinaitis had a goal and an assist, Connor McIlhany, Andrew Burton and Max Schultz each scored a goal and Troy Megneys added two assists.
“They passed well and played well as a team,” assistant coach Kevin Moore said. “Overall, (this tournament) was a pretty good test for them, and they were challenged in a couple of the games. They’ve worked hard, and it paid off again today.”
Schultz struck first with a goal at the 4:29 mark of the opening period, Burton found the net 35 seconds later, and Martinaitis made it 3-0 with 3:05 remaining in the period. Sullivan’s goal at the 12:38 mark of the first put the game out of reach, and McIlhany closed the scoring with a strike 1:25 into the second.
Eric Buchholz and Chloe Beaubien combined to make 17 saves between the pipes to secure the shutout victory. Team was the word most commonly used by the Tigers, who feel their chemistry is part of what makes the squad so good.
“I thought we played real well all tournament and played like a team, as we always do,” Kyle Moore said. “We work like a team in tournaments and in the regular season, and that’s why we have three tournament wins.”
The Bantam B Tigers, made up of 13- and 14-year-olds, was not the only area team to take home a title in this year’s tournament. The Tigers’ Squirt C squad defeated Arvada 4-0 behind two goals from Reese Knox and a goal and two assists from Jake Geronazzo at Honnen Ice Arena to capture its division championship.
The Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association’s Peewee AA team advanced to its division finals before falling 8-2 to the Boise (Idaho) Steelheads.
Scott Sullivan, left, of the Colorado Springs Junior Tigers beats Joseph Lewis (#77) of the Oklahoma City Oil Kings to the puck during the Bantam B championship game Monday February. 16, 2015. The junior Tigers won the game in the final day of the Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association Presidents Day Tournament 5-0. Carol Lawrence/The Gazette
Junior Tigers goalie Chloe Beaubien cheers on members of the Oklahoma City Oil Kings as they receive their second place medals after the Jr. Tigers defeated the Oil Kings 5-0 in the Bantam B championship game Monday February. 16, 2015 at the Broadmoor World Arena Ice Hall. Carol Lawrence/The Gazette
Some of the Colorado Springs Junior Tigers pose for photos with the championship banner after the Jr. Tigers defeated the Oil Kings in the Bantam B championship game Monday February. 16, 2015. Carol Lawrence/The Gazette
