Rugby Ice Hawks | Bantam Hockey Team | Rugby Amateur Hockey Association

Bantam Hockey

Notes from Coach Grant

------------------

Bantams End Successful Season

The Brave-Hawks are a team of combined players from Bottineau Blue Line Hockey club and Rugby Amateur Hockey Association. This is the third year of a cooperative endeavor between the two communities where home games, practices, jerseys, costs, and opportunities are shared. Luke Amsbaugh, Cody Bedlion, Noah Grant, Hunter Haakenson, Nigel Hageness, Levi Indvik, Riley Monson, Braden Pewe, and Nick Schaan comprised the core players for the Bantam group. The team was also aided by play from Austyn Lorenz, Shawn Schaan (both are Peewees) and Ashley Blue (19U Girls) when their schedules permitted. The Brave-Hawks were coached by Matt Johnson, Todd Grant, and Todd Hageness. Mark Pewe and Sandy Hageness were team managers.

The Bottineau-Rugby Bantam hockey team finished their 2010-11 season with 24 wins, 15 losses, and 2 ties. They played in the Southwest Manitoba Recreational Hockey League, finishing runner-up in the B division. Many SWRHL games were played with only eight or nine players, especially during a midseason stretch when Braden Pewe was recovering from a broken leg. The Brave-Hawks also played in the North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association northeast division, going undefeated during the regular season and finishing third during the Bantam B1 State Tournament. As a team, they scored 253 goals and 331 assists. Captain Cody Bedlion led the team in scoring with 132 total points. Luke Amsbaugh led the team with 71 goals and Noah Grant led the team with 79 assists. These three line-mates tallied a remarkable 381 points over 41 games. Co-captain Nigel Hageness led all scoring by defensemen with 52 points. Goalie Monson stopped 949 of 1,097 shots faced for an 87% save percentage. The Brave-Hawks would like to thank their communities, fans, parents, coaches, referees, and rink managers for supporting hockey in both communities.

------------------

Bantams Win Four

Rugby-Bottineau Bantams won four games in Grand Forks to remain undefeated in North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association play. Friday night February 11, Rugby-Bottineau squared off against previously undefeated Grand Forks Raiders, defeating them 6-3. Scoring were Luke Amsbaugh (2 goals and 2 assists), Cody Bedlion (2 goals), Ashley Blue (1 goal and 1 assist), Noah Grant (1 goal and 3 assists), and Nigel Hageness (2 assists). Riley Monson stopped 19 of 22 shots.

On Saturday afternoon Rugby-Bottineau outscored Grand Forks Spartans 9-3 on goals by Amsbaugh (3), Bedlion, Blue, and Grant (3). Monson stopped 11 of 14 shots. Rugby-Bottineau defeated Grand Forks Royals 8-2 early Sunday morning. Goals were from Amsbaugh (2), Bedlion, Blue, Grant, Hunter Haakenson, and Nick Schaan (2). Goalie Monson stopped 91% of shots faced. On Sunday afternoon, Rugby-Bottineau won a physical battle against Mayville-Portland by a score of 10-5. Scoring came from Amsbaugh (5 goals and 3 assists), Bedlion (3 goals and 5 assists), Blue (1 assist), Grant (1 goal and 4 assists), Hageness (1 assist), Levi Indvik (1 assist), and Schaan ( 1 goal). The Brave-Hawks were outshot 35-26 with Monson stopping 86% of shots faced. Rugby-Bottineau complete NDAHA play with home games against Grand Forks Raiders on Saturday February 19, and Devils Lake on Tuesday February 22.

------------------

Rugby-Bottineau Bantams Split Weekend Games

The Bantams lost an away game in Boissevain on Saturday by a score of 6-9. Rugby-Bottineau rallied from a four goal deficit in the third period to come within one goal of tying the game. A late goal and an empty net goal sealed the Brave-hawks fate. Boissevain has not lost in Southwest League play. Luke Amsbaugh and Cody Bedlion each had hat tricks. Noah Grant (4), Bedlion (2), and Nigel Hageness (2) added assists. The Brave-hawks hosted Carberry in Bottineau on Sunday. Rugby-Bottineau controlled play from start to finish in the 9-4 victory. Scoring came from Amsbaugh (1 goal and 5 assists), Bedlion (2 goals and 3 assists), Noah Grant (3 goals and 2 assists), Hunter Haakenson (1 assist), Nigel Hageness (1 goal and 1 assist), Braden Pewe (1 assist), and Nick Schaan (2 goals and 1 assist). Riley Monson stopped 16 of 20 shots. Bantams have a full week of games beginning Thursday at Devil's Lake. They host Melita in Bottineau on Friday, host Grafton-Park River in Rugby on Saturday, and host Deloraine in Bottineau on Sunday.

-----------------

Bantams remain undefeated in North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association League play.

On Sunday, Rugby-Bottineau Bantams defeated MayPort 8-5. Scoring were Cody Bedlion (3), Luke Amsbaugh (2), Austyn Lorenz (2), and Nigel Hageness. Noah Grant (3) and Amsbaugh (2) had several assists. Riley Monson had 20 saves on 25 shots.

Last week Rugby-Bottineau traveled to Grafton Park River, winning by a score of 5-1. Goals were from Bedlion (2), Amsbaugh (2), and Lorenz. Grant (3) and Hageness (2) had multiple assists. Monson was near perfect on 28 shots. On Sunday, Rugby-Bottineau dominated Langdon 20-3. Puck movement was spectacular at times, especially by the Amsbaugh-Bedlion-Grant line which accounted for 24 goals and assists. All players were involved in scoring with goals by Amsbaugh (5), Nick Schaan (4), Grant (3), Hageness (3), Lorenz (2), Bedlion, Hunter Haakenson, and Levi Indvik. Goalie Monson stopped 21 of 24 shots. Games this weekend are Grand Forks Royals at 8:00 Friday (in Rugby) and on the road at 3:30 Sunday in Deloraine.

----------------------

Rugby-Bottineau Bantams are four games into their young season. Play in the Southwest Manitoba Recreational Hockey league opened on the road in Carberry on 10/29. Rugby-Bottineau won convincingly 7-1 Scoring was balanced, with all forwards tallying goals. Amsbaugh and Grant each had 4 points, Bedlion and Schaan each had 3 points. Monson stopped 11 of 12 shots.

Rugby-Bottineau tied Killarney 4-4 on 10/30. The start was sluggish with Rugby-Bottineau down by 3 goals entering the 3rd period. Bottineau scored 3 goals in a 5 minute stretch to take the lead before giving up the tying goal in the last two minutes of the period. Amsbaugh had 2 goals, Blue and Haakenson scored the others. Grant had 3 assists and Monson stopped 16 of 20 shots.

Rugby-Bottineau beat Melita 4-2 on 11/7, again coming from behind in the 3rd period. Monson stopped 27 of 29 shots. Bedlion had the hat trick and Amsbaugh added an empty net goal to seal the win.

During their first home game on 11/13, Rugby-Bottineau lost to Souris 3-6 on 11/13. Goals were hard to come by, with Grant and Bedlion and Schaan each scoring. Monson stopped 24 of 30 shots. Rugby-Bottineau play in Souris this Saturday and are at home against Virden on Sunday.

--------------------------------

On Saturday 11-27, Rugby-Bottineau Bantams opened their North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association schedule with a 5-2 win against the Grand Forks Spartans. Luke Amsbaugh scored 2 goals while Cody Bedlion, Noah Grant, and Hunter Haakenson added the other goals. Rugby-Bottineau tallied 49 shots. Riley Monson stopped 18 of 20 shots. On Sunday, Rugby-Bottineau lost a physical match to Boissevain in Bottineau by a score of 4-8. The Brave-Hawks were outshot, but hung in with Boissevain until the midpoint of the 3rd period. Goals were from Luke Amsbaugh, Cody Bedlion, Nigel Hageness, and Austyn Lorenz. Riley Monson stopped 35 of 43 shots. On a more ominous note, defenseman Braden Pewe is out for an indefinite period with a cracked fibula - this is a tough loss for a team with only 9 players. Ashley Blue (19U team), Austyn Lorenz and Shawn, Schaan (Peewees) will help when their schedules allow. Up next this weekend are two road games in Grafton-Park River and Langdon.