The Bradford Rattlers Jr. A team has advanced to Round 3 of the GMHL North Division playoffs, in the chase for the Russell Cup.
They defeated the Bradford Bulls Jr. A squad in a “Battle of Bradford.”
The Bulls stood third in the rankings in the 10-team North Division, after 2019-20 regular season play, with 29 wins, 12 losses and 0 ties. The Bradford Rattlers were in fourth place, with 27 wins, 13 losses, 0 ties.
The first two games in the best of five series between the local teams required overtime to settle – Game 1 on Feb. 26 going to the Rattlers, 3-2, and Game 2 on Feb. 28, a 4-3 win for the Bulls.
The Bulls then took Game 3 on Feb. 29 in regulation play, 4-2 – all that was needed, apparently, to push the Rattlers to regroup and find their mojo.
Rattlers took charge in Game 4 on March 1 with a decisive 4-0 victory, tying the series – then went on to sweep the Bulls 5-0 in Game 5 on March 4.
The series win sends the Rattlers into the North Division Final versus the Temiskaming Titans, in a best of 7 game series. Temiskaming was first in the standings for the division, with 33 wins, 8 losses, 0 ties.
Games 1 and 2 are slated for March 7 and 8 up in Temiskaming, but the Rattlers will be on home ice for Game 3 on March 11, at the BWG Leisure Centre with puck drop at 8 p.m.; and for Game 4, March 12 at 7:30 p.m., also at the Leisure Centre.
Game 5 is slated for Temiskaming on March 13, Game 6 back in Bradford on March 15, and the final game in the series (if needed) in Temiskaming on March 17.
Winner of the North Division Final will go on to play the South Division winner - either St. George or the Niagara Whalers - for the Greater Metro Hockey League’s Russell Cup.
