On the evening of October 3, 2025, the ball hockey arena at BHi Brantford 2 was buzzing with excitement as the Pigeons took on the Cherry Blasters in an exhilarating match.
The game started off with a bang as Dylan Barsotta scored an even strength goal for the Pigeons just five minutes into the first period, with assistance from Raine Hernden. Not long after, teammate Will VanNieuwenhuizen added a second goal to the Pigeons’ tally!
But the Cherry Blasters fought back fiercely, with Brendan Macleod scoring two quick-fire goals, one unassisted and the other with a nifty pass from Machaela Mathurin. The first period ended with the Pigeons leading as Maddie Lefler slid the ball past the Cherry Blasters’ goalie, making the score 3-2.
The second period saw the Pigeons stretch their lead, thanks to a magnificent duo of goals from Raine Hernden. First, Hernden received a pass from John Pongracz to score, and then, teamed up with Victoria Barsotta, she netted her second. The period was not without drama as both teams were penalized – Machaela Mathurin of Cherry Blasters and Tripp Balaga of Pigeons served two minutes each for interference.
The final period saw the Pigeons secure their win with a goal from Jenn Boutilier, assisted by Maddie Lefler and Raine Hernden. The Cherry Blasters put up a good fight, but the Pigeons proved too strong, ending the match with a solid 6-2 victory.
Despite the final score, both teams displayed excellent skill and sportsmanship throughout the match. The Cherry Blasters’ goalie deserves a special mention for his impressive 23 saves.
Congratulations to the Pigeons and a hat tip to the Cherry Blasters for an enthralling game of youth ball hockey!