Rimbey Bantam Renegades tied its first of two games banner games; vying with Ponoka’s team for the Zone 4 banner.
After a highly competitive game played Tuesday, Feb. 25, with lots of back and forth in the score, the teams ended with a 3-3 final score.
“Ponoka put up a tough battle,” said Renegades head coach Brent Norstrom.
Rimbey came on strong during the first period and took the lead; second period is where they fumbled. “The boys came out flat-footed, lost the lead, and had to fight for a tie,” said Norstrom.
All season the two teams upheld a rivalry that will continue into provincials, as both teams will represent Zone 4.
Rimbey is hosting, with an automatic pass to provincials, and the boys are also first in the league.
“They’re a handful. They make us work for our score,” said Norstrom, referring to Ponoka’s Bantam team.
Every game during the season against Ponoka has ended in a close score, with Ponoka winning the first rivalry face-off and Rimbey taking the next three.
Norstrom’s goals for his team — during regular season and provincials — are to have the players keep the puck moving, play as a team and play positions. “I just expect that they come out and that they play hard.”
Five of the team’s players competed at provincials last year, so the team’s working with several veterans. However, the Renegades are losing one player during provincials because he’s overage. “He’s one of our better players so it hurts us a little bit,” said Norstrom.
The second banner game between Ponoka and Rimbey was played Saturday, March 1, too late for press time.
“And they’re looking like they want it a little more than we do,” said Norstrom after Tuesday’s game.