The Titans Hockey Union 17U AAA squad used a potent power play and a pair of goals from Declan Benson to secure a 6-3 victory over Kootenay HA in a game that grew increasingly chippy as the final horn approached. The Titans set the tone early, capitalizing on a man-advantage just over six minutes into the first period when Kayne Bennetts buried a power-play goal, assisted by Lincoln Bartel and Benson. Just 17 seconds later, Benson struck for his first of the game at even strength, with helpers from Kade Steffler and Kiran George. Kootenay answered back on their own power play, as Lane Johnson found the net to make it 2-1, but the Titans' early offensive burst gave them a lead they would not relinquish.
Kootenay came out strong in the second period, with Xavier Barrett tying the game just 51 seconds in. The Titans responded quickly, as Chayce Adams scored an unassisted marker to restore the lead. Later in the period, with the Titans on the power play, Seth Hantelmann lit the lamp with assists from Steffler and Bartel, pushing the lead to 4-2. Kootenay's Preston Oler brought his team back within one, but the back-and-forth period ended with the Titans holding a slim one-goal edge. The physical play began to escalate, setting the stage for a chaotic third period.
Any hopes of a Kootenay comeback were dashed early in the final frame when Benson netted his second of the game just 28 seconds in, assisted by Shepard Lehto. The game then descended into a parade to the penalty box, with a series of roughing minors and a major penalty for kicking assessed to Kootenay's Nixon McDonald. The Titans put the game completely out of reach on the ensuing power play, with Lehto scoring from Benson and Adams to make it 6-3. The game ended in ugly fashion, with Kootenay's Xavier Barrett receiving a match penalty for spearing at the final buzzer. Despite being outshot 37-36, the Titans' special teams and timely scoring proved decisive in a hard-fought, and at times ill-tempered, contest.
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