The following are hockey dispatches from around the area.

On Saturday Feb. 23 the Bancroft IDA/Park View Dental Midget Girls Jets team travelled to Lakefield to play the Ennismore Eagles. The Eagles took the lead early in the first. The Jets determined to win evened the score shortly after. Gabbey Burnett put pressure on the Eagles’ goalie with several quick shots on net resulting in a scramble in front. Olivia Martin was able to find the puck and jammed it in on a rebound. No goals were scored in the second. Just when it seemed that the game was going to end in a tie with .5 seconds left on the clock Haley Goulet chased down the puck won a battle behind the net walked it out and passed it to defensive teammate Ryan Rupnow who was waiting in front of the net. Rupnow with a quick wrist shot got the winning goal of the game. Final result Jets 2 Eagles 1.
On Saturday March 2 the team travelled to Keene to face the Otonabee Wolverines. The end result was a tie 1-1.
Beth Brownlee skated the puck in behind the opponent’s net and tried to tap it in. Jaylin Frost finished it off by tapping the puck in off of one of Brownlee’s attempts.
Sunday March 3 the Jets hosted the West Northumberland Wild on home ice.
Despite all of their hard fought efforts and exchanges from end to end throughout the game the Jets lost the game 2-1 late in the third period. Olivia Martin scored the lone goal for the Jets and went five hole with a pass from the corner and out in front from Goulet.
Chloe Burnett has been outstanding and solid as goalie during all games for the Jets.
The Jets have two playdown games remaining. The team will travel to Brighton this Saturday evening to face the Cold Creek Comets and will host the Lindsey Lynx on home ice at the NHCC for their final game at 4:30 p.m. Come out and cheer the team on.

On Friday March 1 the JoAnne Sharpley’s Source for Sports/Haliburton Family Medical Centre Highland Storm Peewee A team travelled to Frontenac to face the Frontenac Flyers in Game 1 of the semi-finals. It was a close game however the Storm lost 11-3. Goals were scored by Beckam Reynolds and Addison St Cyr.
On Saturday March 2 they faced the Frontenac Flyers in Game 2. It was a close game up until the third period. The Storm lost 7-2. Goals were scored by Austin Boylan and Addison St Cyr.
On Sunday March 3 the Storm hosted the Flyers in Game 3. The first period started with a goal by Austin Boylan followed by a goal by the Flyers. With two minutes left Mak Prentice scored followed by another goal by the Flyers. It was a 2-2 game going into the second. The second period was a goal by Addison St Cyr. And it was 3-2 going into the third. The third was all Frontenac. They scored four goals and the final was 6-3. The JoAnne Sharpley’s Source for Sports/Haliburton Family Medical Centre Highland Storm Peewee A season has come to an end. They fought very hard and played their very best.
By Amber Card

The playoffs took place last weekend for the the Highland Storm Pharmasave LL Midget team. Hard work this season awarded the team an invitation to the A division group. First up was South Muskoka Bears. Muskoka got on the scoreboard midway through the opening period after some sustained pressure in the Storm zone. Brenden Newhook tied the game working together with Sam Hoenow on a nice passing play. Nate Miscio was rock solid in the period making some exceptional saves. Muskoka regained the lead on a backhand shot in close to Miscio and quickly made it 3-1. Jake Sisson scored on a laser bar down wrist shot from the blue line taking advantage of a two-man power play. The Storm had another opportunity late in the third being given another power play but were unable to score falling 3-2 in a tight match to the Bears.
The Storm’s second game was against rival Huntsville Otters. The Otters scored 30 seconds into the game and continued to keep the Storm pinned in their own end for the first four minutes. The Storm settled down after that and almost tied the game on a Jake Sisson wrap-around.
The Storm found themselves once again pinned into their own zone at the start of the second period and only stellar goaltending by Miscio kept the locals down by one. The Otters persisted though and were rewarded with two quick goals to jump ahead by three. Huntsville got their fourth late in the third on a sharp angle shot to seal the fate of the Highland Storm. Final score: 5-0 Huntsville in a very impressive game by the Otters.
Game 3 Sunday morning was against the Kia South Muskoka Bears. The Storm had an early power play which almost resulted in Lexi Tait’s first goal of the season. The Bears did end up scoring first after some spectacular saves by Miscio. The Bears went up by a couple in the second period on a short-handed goal. The Storm made it interesting in the third on a lovely passing play between Hoenow and Newhook who set up Colin Crowe in front of the net. The Storm did get a few more chances but couldn’t find the back of the net and lost 2-1.
By Gord Hoenow

Our LL Peewee Home Hardware team travelled to Parry Sound to end a great year!
First game was against the Muskoka Bears. The Storm’s Alex Hendry #9 started the scoring assisted by #10 Emery Bagshaw and #15 Weston Bowker. The Bears retaliated with two goals. Nathan Harrison (#12) ended the first period with a goal assisted by #19 Wyatt Raposo and #11 Mikayla Sisson. Again Storm started the scoring in the second with #15 finding the net assisted by #9 and #21 Spencer Bowker. The Bears scored two more taking the lead going into the third. The Storm played a strong last period with #12 scoring assisted again by #19 and #11. The game ended 4-4 and player of the game was #15 Weston Bowker!
The second game was Storm on Storm! These two teams battled hard and the first period ended with neither team scoring. The Canadian Tire team scored three goals in the second. In the third the Home Hardware team responded with #17 Daniel Stephen scoring two unassisted goals. Player of the game was awarded to #21 Spencer Bowker!
The last game of the year was against Huntsville. The Otters started the game with a quick goal and Storms #15 responded with a goal assisted by #9. The Otters found the Storm’s net with another three goals but the Storm wasn’t done and #9 scored us another point assisted by #19 and #15. Player of this game was given to #7 Adam Davis.
Coach James Raposo gave these kids a great hockey year … thanks from the players and parents.
By Marita Bagshaw

The Haliburton TimberMart/Haliburton Hockey Haven Sports Camp Novice Reps played their first two semi-final games against the Sturgeon Lake Thunder on the weekend.
Saturday the teams battled it out in Minden in an intense high-paced match. The Thunder allowed few shooting opportunities for the Storm but stole two goals resulting in a 2-0 loss for the Storm. Goalie Carter Braun played an incredible game.
On Sunday the Novices travelled to Fenelon Falls. Again the teams both demonstrated ferocity and the desire to win with speed and aggressive checking. The Thunder took two goals in the second period before Luke Gruppe placed one in for the Storm assisted by Evan Perrott and Easton Burk. The Thunder took two more goals in the third. Although the Storm lost the game 4-1 the entire team played extraordinarily well and should be proud of their effort.
To see the Novices in action against the Sturgeon Lake Thunder come cheer on the Storm this Thursday at 6 p.m. in Haliburton.
By Sara Gruppe

The Highland Storm Midgets are up 2-0 in the semi-final series against the Bancroft Jets. It began Saturday March 2 in Bancroft and the Storm battled for the 5-4 win.
It was a slow start for the Storm team allowing the Jets to get on the scoreboard. Minutes later Dollo fed Gilbert and he pushed hard with enormous drive and top cornered the tying goal. Shortly after the Storm capitalized on a power play. Give and go action led to Walker’s stick and he patiently waited to find the opening and made it a 2-1 game. The momentum picked up in the second period however it was the Jets that got a lucky break and tied it up. The Storm exploded into action and answered back with two goals. Haedicke rush in and fought for puck control behind the net. He snapped a pass to Smith waiting in front to capture the goal. Seconds later Haedicke stole the puck for a breakaway and backhanded past the goalie making it a 4-2 game.
End to end action continued late in the second the Jets narrowed it to 4-3 ending the second period. The third period was intense both teams worked tremendously hard. Late in the period the Jets pulled their goalie and Haedicke scored the empty-netter making it 5-3. The Jets managed to keep the pressure on and closed the gap to 5-4 with just seconds left in the game.

The next day the head to head action was played in Haliburton and the Storm Midgets came from behind to win 5-4. The Storm team warmed up in the first period letting the Jets take the lead. Late in the first Smith headed into the Jets’ end and snapped in the first goal unassisted. The second period was tough for the Storm team as the Jets dominated and fired in two quick goals a 3-1 game. Later the Storm took advantage of a power play Gilbert scored with help from Walker and Clements ending the period 3-2 for the Jets. The Jets made it 4-2 early in the third during a three-on-five power play. It was then the Storm who turned up the heat with determination and drive. The Storm fought hard for puck control. Gilbert was in the right place to snap in a pass from Smith and made it a 4-3 game halfway through the third period. A few minutes later the Storm continued to pressure the Jets. Give and go action led to Smith tying things up helped by MacNaull and Walker. The Storm still in gear Walker tipped a pass to Haedicke he pushed for the breakaway and expertly top cornered the go-ahead goal. It was intense action the last couple of minutes while the Storm killed off a penalty to captured the 5-4 win.
By Suzanne Haedicke

With a much anticipated tournament on our hands the LL Atom #2 TD Canada Trust took a road trip to Gravenhurst. With our first game TD Canada Trust hosted the Almaguin Ice Devils.
During the first period Ethan Rowe was able to open the scoring with a nice pass from behind the net from Logan Reid directly to Tavia Harris. Tavia chipped the puck up to Ethan with which he found the back of the net.
As the second period opened up Carson Jones battled the puck up the boards to find Ethan Rowe to make a nice pass across the ice to Logan Reid to sink the puck top shelf.
With Brian Robichaud showing his scrambling skills in net to keep the score at a minimum Logan Reid was able to break the play at centre ice and defeat both defence and score unassisted.
During the second period Ethan Rowe broke away and stuck another beautiful top shelf goal unassisted. Minutes later the passing skills of Rowe and Reid allowed Reid to make a beauty pass the Rowe to deke out the goalie for Rowe’s very first hat-trick of the season. Final score: 5-3. MVP awarded to Brian Robichaud.

On our second game South Muskoka Middaugh hosted the TD Canada Trust. With an awesome display of determination from both teams Middaugh was able to open up the scoring. But with the duo of Reid and Rowe Rowe was able to make a wicked pass across ice to an open Reid to sink the puck right through the glove side. Final score: 4-1. MVP awarded to Logan Reid.
For TD’s final game and one of the best games of the season against our very own G.J. Burtch Highland Storm. During the first period Zach Lowe was proving he was a force to reckon with and blocking and scrambling for the puck. During the second period Reid broke away in our end to make a beautiful pass up to Kamauhl Cassey Russel which resulted in a wicked slapshot to score glove side.
During the third period with both Medlar and Harris on defence keeping the puck in Kamauhl was able to set up Rowe to find the back of the net. But in the end our TD’s lost to our own G.J. Burtch: 9-2. MVP awarded to Tavia Harris.
Hockey hall of fame ambassador of the season awarded to Logan Reid.
Great season and can’t wait for our next.
By Chris McMartin

This past weekend the GJ Burtch LL Atoms travelled to Gravenhurst to compete in the MPS-LL championship weekend. The Storm’s play throughout the year placed them at the top of the Atom B pool.
First game the Storm squared off in a rematch from last weekend against the Wes Finch Atoms from South Muskoka. The Storm would open the scoring less than a minute in when Taylor Mulock drove the net and her resulting rebound landed in front of Isaac Borgdorff who made no mistakes and beat the South Muskoka goalie. Although the Storm would give up a goal halfway through the period a minute later Eric Mueller deked their goalie and took the lead 2-1. Assisted by Jacob Davis. A tight checking second period saw no goals but a ton of excitement. South Muskoka would tie the game halfway through the third Davis was having none of that. Thirty seconds later he stripped the puck streaked toward the net and buried the puck to take the lead. MVP Eric Mueller final 3-2 Storm.
Second game the Storm would face the Almaguin Ice Devils. Isaac Borgdorff broke away from the Almaguin defence and got the Storm on the board six minutes into the first. The Storm seemed to find their stride in the second period. Jacob Mantle got the ball rolling with an electrifying end to end run goal unassisted. Then Eric Mueller set up Olivia Gruppe. Then Sadie Evan-Fockler assisted Mantle’s second of the game. Almaguin would not roll over getting the game to within one goal with six minutes remaining. Layne Robinson scored from Taylor Mulock and Borgdorff. Eighteen seconds later Robinson scores again this time Jacob Davis and Mulock assisted. His very next shift Robinson scored again completing the natural hat-trick in two minutes and 25 seconds. Assist to Gruppe and Davis. Davis would get a goal of his own a minute later from Mulock and Mueller. MVP Layne Robinson final 8-3

The Storm’s final round robin game was against their hometown rivals the Storm’s TD Atoms. Hometown bragging rights on the line both Storm teams battled extremely hard throughout the first. Eric Mueller was able to open the scoring with 51 seconds left in the first assist to Taylor Mulock. As the game wore on the Burtch Atoms began to find the back of the TD net. Mantle had two unassisted rushes up the ice through the TD defence and into the net. Mulock got her first of the game assisted by Isaac Borgdorff and Olivia Gruppe.
In the third it became evident how much the Burtch team wanted this win particularly Mueller. He scored one 53 seconds into the third assists to Gruppe and Borgdorff. TD pushed back with a goal of their own however so did Mueller scoring on an unassisted breakaway completing his hat-trick. Forty-five seconds later Mantle made a nice pass up to Mueller who buried his fourth of the game. All of Jacob Davis’s hard work throughout the game paid off when Robinson fed him a sweet pass and he got his first of the game. Mantle would complete his hat-trick in the third on another unassisted end to end skate. MVP Olivia Gruppe 9-2 final.

At the conclusion of round robin the Storm found themselves in first place in the B pool and facing the Huntsville McDonald’s Atoms in the B final. Both teams traded chances the Storm’s goalie Jacob Lloyd stood his ground and kept his team in the hunt. It wasn’t until near the end of the second Jacob Davis passed it up to Jacob Mantle who made a couple of quick moves before scoring on the back hand. Layne Robinson would score three minutes into the third from Olivia Gruppe. As the third wore on it became evident that while the Storm’s bench was only eight skaters deep Huntsville’s was 15. Lloyd made some incredible saves as Huntsville mounted a comeback. Some with his toe others his glove one with the butt end of his stick. Inevitably after an unfortunate collision that took some Storm players out of the play Huntsville was able to tie the game up at two. The first overtime three-on-three settled nothing. Robinson was hauled down on a breakaway but was denied on the penalty shot. The second overtime two-on-two. The Storm had a terrific chance two minutes into the fifth period. Huntsville’s goalie made a glove save and passed the puck up the ice resulting in the game winning goal. Although the Storm lost in the final they should be proud of their effort and the growth from the beginning for of the year. MVP Jacob Lloyd final 3-2 Huntsville.
Next up the team travels to Cambridge to compete in the Ayr hockey challenge on March 22-24.
By Jamie Lloyd