2009-10 Major Bantam - Major Bantams Sweep Hamilton in Three Games to Win First Playdown Series
In a first for the Lakers 1995 age group, the Major Bantams won their first playdown series in convincing style by defeating the Hamilton Reps in three games straight.
Although all three games were well-played contests, it was the crucial first game that would be the closest. The Lakers scored first on a power play midway through the first period and the Reps responded with a short-handed goal early in the second period to tie things up. The last half the second period would decide this contest as the teams traded even strength goals before the Lakers got the eventual game winner on the power play.
Game 2 was held the following day (January 17th) in Hamilton. The Lakers got out to a good start in this one with two goals in the first period to go up 2-0. The Lakers added another pair of goals in the second period to stake out a 4-0 lead. The Reps broke the shutout bid with a goal late in the third period. The Lakers added another goal before the period ended to win 5-1.
Game 3 was a home game for the Lakers the following Friday in Hensall. The teams each scored a goal in the first before the Lakers were able to blow the game open during a brief spell that saw them score three goals in just over a minute. This momentary lapse proved to be too much for the Reps to recover from as the Lakers scored another goal before the period ended and the teams traded goals in the third. With the 6-2 win the Lakers took the series and moved on to the second round of playdowns (a first for this age group).
In a clear sign of the Lakers’ balanced attack, almost all players registered at least a point over the three games.
The Lakers' next opponent is the Cambridge Hawks who finished second in the East Division in the regular season (just ahead of the Lakers) and defeated the London Jr. Knights (Green) team in a three game sweep in their first playdown series.
The series opens in Cambridge on Sunday, January 31st at 1 p.m. at the Galt Arena Gardens and then follows with Game 2 in Palmerston on February 2nd and Game 3 in Hespeler on February 4th.
