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Rattlers keep rolling with 6-3 win over River Dragons

Victory solidified defending Russell Cup champions' perfect start to the season
BradfordToday Staff
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The Bradford Rattlers, defending Russell Cup champs, continued their strong start with a 6-3 win over the expansion Wasaga River Dragons on SundayPhoto supplied by Bradford Rattlers

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BRADFORD RATTLERS
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The Bradford Rattlers, defending Russell Cup champions, continued their strong start to the season with a 6-3 victory over the expansion Wasaga River Dragons on Sunday at the BWG Leisure Centre.

The game marked a special moment for the Rattlers as Tyler Baxter, a former assistant captain who played with the team for four seasons and won two Russell Cups, made his debut as an assistant coach under head coach David Mooney.

New defencemen William Hoffman and Jonathan Wennas were instrumental in the win, both contributing a goal and two assists. Their dynamic play on both ends of the ice helped Bradford control key moments, particularly on special teams. Hoffman and Wennas have quickly adapted to the Rattlers’ system, showcasing their potential as key players.

Returning forwards Anrijs Bundzenieks and Aaron Stemper, both pivotal in last year's championship run, played crucial roles once again. Bundzenieks scored two goals, including a short-handed effort in the third period, while Stemper added a goal and an assist. Their experience and chemistry from last season shone through in this victory, helping Bradford maintain control.

Wasaga started strong with an early goal by Tay Kurpius, but Bradford quickly responded. Wennas and Hoffman each scored power-play goals in the first period, giving Bradford the lead. Though Wasaga tied the game at 2-2 with a late first-period goal by Joel Texmo, Bradford dominated the second period, with Borisov, Bundzenieks, and Stemper finding the back of the net to extend the lead to 5-3.

In the third period, Bundzenieks sealed the win with a short-handed goal, demonstrating Bradford's strong penalty-killing unit. Goaltender Zack Thomsson made 23 saves on 26 shots, providing stability between the pipes, while Bradford outshot Wasaga 35-26 overall.

The victory solidified Bradford's perfect 2-0-0 start to the season as they look poised for another championship run. With Baxter transitioning seamlessly from player to coach, the team seems to have added another piece of strong leadership on the bench to complement their on-ice talent. Wasaga, now 1-1-0, will regroup as they look to bounce back from their first loss of the season.

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