The RAMP Saints secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the U13 BRONCOS in a game defined by tight checking and timely scoring. The first period was a physical affair, with both teams trading penalties. The Broncos' Leo Pasma was sent off for slashing early, but the Saints' Cameron Starrett and the Broncos' Brody Hughes would also take minors, keeping the game scoreless through a first frame that saw the Broncos outshoot the Saints 11-6. The deadlock was finally broken early in the second period when the Broncos' Luca Virga found the back of the net, assisted by Leo Pasma, giving the home team a 1-0 lead.
The Saints responded with resilience. Midway through the period, Jax Chiasson netted the equalizer, set up by Benjamin McGrath, to knot the game at 1-1. The Saints kept pressing and were rewarded just over two minutes later when Nash Whalen scored what would stand as the game-winning goal, with Lukas Michalski and Smith Love picking up the assists. The third period saw tensions rise, resulting in coincidental minors to the Saints' Brody Chetek and the Broncos' Russell Elliott, and a late slashing penalty to the Broncos' Brody Hughes, but neither power play could break through. Saints goaltender Jack Kronewitt was a wall, turning aside all 21 shots he faced for the win, while the Broncos' Emmett MacDonald was nearly as good, allowing just two goals on 21 shots in a tough-luck loss.
In the end, the Saints' ability to capitalize on their chances in the second period proved decisive. Despite a strong opening frame from the Broncos, the Saints tightened up defensively as the game wore on, limiting the Broncos to just 10 shots over the final two periods to secure the narrow road victory.
Raptors
