The King of the Hill Bantam final is always a spirited affair.  Year after year, each final takes on it’s own personality; this year would be no different.

Two teams emerged from the Bantam carnage to play for the right to be called “King of the Hill”.  The Vipers, a group familiar with each other, slick passing and very dangerous,  versus the Rippers, an emotional and hard skating ensemble.

Less then one minute in the game John Bassett made a nice bank pass to Ryan Flynn who broke in on the Rippers goalie and made the score 1 – 0 Vipers, five holing the puck.  Back and forth play went, the Rippers pressing until they tied the score 1 – 1 with a blast from the point, assist to Bob Canterbury.  At the 7:15 mark the Rippers went up 2 – 1 with a nice goal from Will Thorpe rushing in from the neutral zone with a snap shot.  Less then 2 minutes later the Rippers struck gold again.  Nick Rysedorph with a shorthanded effort off an assist from Pat Farnan during a scrum in front of the Viper net. Rippers 3 – Vipers 1.  But at the 3:09 mark the Vipers would answer back,  Trey McDougall with a nice head man pass to Ryan Flynn who scored on this breakaway,  Rippers 3 – Vipers 2.  But just before the period ended Truman Gonzales with a nice one timer from Nick Van Liew made the score Rippers 4 – Vipers 2.

Period Two started just as fast and furious.  Less then one minute in, the Vipers strike with a quick shot from Matt Flynn, assists to DJ Fish and Trey McDougall.  Then at the 9:16 mark,  Trey McDougall with a roofer just out of reach of the Ripper goalie.  Five minutes later Vipers hit again, Matt Flynn with a quick snap shot from Ryan Flynn.  And finally to end a totally dominant Viper period,  Matt Flynn with a chip shot from Ryan Flynn, again.  Period ends, Vipers 6 – Rippers 4.

Period Three starts and the Rippers would not go down easy, less then one minute in,  they score on a nice five hole placement, fooling the Vipers goalie.  The next fourteen minutes would have everyone on the edge of their seat, but no more goals.  Great defense, outstanding goaltending and gut wrenching back checks made for an entertaining period with the Vipers earning a hard fought 6 – 5 championship over the Rippers.

Congratulations to all Bantams for a great division and good luck this season!