The 98 Elites and 97 Red Ranger Selects squared off late last night in a winner take all battle to see which team would represent the New England Hockey League for the Tier II Bantam spot. The 98s scored 5 unanswered goals in Tewksbury to take down the bigger and stronger Red Rangers. The Elites will now await a meeting on Monday evening to learn of their next step. This one started off on the wrong foot for the visitors as the more experienced Red Rangers team came out and controlled the opening 5 minutes of play which led to their first goal, a screened slapper from the point that avoided Zach Laramie. It took two thunderous checks, one by JT Chamberlain and the other by Kyle Lynch to change the momentum in this game, as the first 5 minutes would be the only stretch that the Vipers would not carry the play. JT Chamberlain (1-1-2) who would turn in one of his finest efforts of the season would start the scoring for the Vipes and tie the score half way through the first period, Brendan White (1-1-2) wold pick up the helper after some fine forechecking. The Red Line who have really been playing well of late would hook up again as this time "Beasley" Haley (1-2-3) wold benefit from a fine pass from JT for the 2-1 lead. And the Red Line would strike one last time in the first as Brendan White White would knock in the eventual game winner. The Vipers would send a dagger into the Red Rangers just 1 minute into the crucial 3rd period and up 3-1, Ross Wahl would win a racre in his own zone, chip the puck to himself and would end up on a 2 on 1 with Evan Daddario, at the very last minute Ross would fire a pass through the crease that a hard charging Daddario would bang home for the back breaker. Daddario (2-0-2) would continue his torrid pace as he banged home a goal mouth scramble for the 5th and final Viper goal, Noah Maercklein would pick up the assist on that one. The Red Rangers would tack on a meaningless goal late in the third as they would resort to some less than tasteful play down the stretch. Zach Laramie although not called on often was up to the task coming up with a big save set in the second period when the game was still close. This was a complete team effort from start to finish turned in by the 98s, every player, they rose to the challenge of a big game and passed with flying colors. As they now sit and await their plans on the National Tournament which begins next weekend in Tyngsboro they will entertain 2 very tough games against the Vermont Glades today.