Major Midget Shootout with Rangers
Nick Boyer and Brandon Priestap set an energetic pace during the first two shifts of this game. During a delayed whistle, Colt Pickett had the first good Lakers scoring chance but was denied from close in. JP Trudell was between the pipes for this one.
His first test was a dangerous three on one but the agile netminder held his ground. When called upon again moments later, #1 made the initial save but the rebound wasn’t cleared… 1-0 Rangers. Play got sloppy for both teams through the middle of this period with 15 (7/8) individual penalties recorded. Ryan Watson had the best chance to tie the score but was robbed by a diving glove save.
Five minutes into the second period, Jesse DeGroote took a hard hit but managed to advance the puck to Jaden Goetz who roared in and found a chink in the Ranger goalie’s armor. Goetz was soon at it again, this time helping Nick Boyer to even the score at 2-2. Boyer had just led a two on one rush and, when the defender took away the pass and the shot, wisely circled the net and passed it out to Goetz who returned the puck for the set up. Goetz was having a great game in every situation possible. On the penalty kill late in the second, #16 was spinning and chasing to repeatedly disrupt Kitchener’s efforts to get something organized. On a different penalty kill Luke Salter’s tenacity coughed the puck up to Tyler Kettler who skated in and unleashed a hard but unsuccessful slapper. A pinching Kitchener defender thought Jeff McArdle didn’t see him coming and was flattened for his carelessness. Kitchener would score once more before the end of this period to regain a one goal, 3-2 lead.
The third period started with Eli Adair’s mid-ice Bobby Baun bodycheck. Jerry Ennett gave a Kitchener defender the how d’ya do, slipping the puck through his legs, but was denied from close range. A five on three Kitchener powerplay was to blame for the Rangers 4-2 goal. On a H-P powerplay Luke Salter made it 4-3 with an amazing backhand that he tucked over the goalie’s shoulder from close in. Jaden Goetz continued his stellar play, and tied the score at four apiece by batting the puck out of mid air and into the net. In the dying minutes, the Lakers pulled out all the stops in an effort to win the game. Scott Coghlin hit the post on a powerplay. David Sproat poked one behind the goalie but a quick whistle spoiled the effort. Tyler Kettler made a great move behind the net, changing direction and sending the puck out to Jeff McArdle for a low hard slapper.
In the overtime period, Jaden Goetz got the best scoring chance, crashing the defense and fighting all the way to the goal crease before being halted. After five exciting minutes in which nothing was settled, the game would be decided by a shootout. JP Trudell wasn’t fooled by the first shooter’s deke but was beaten by the second shooter’s deking backhand. Tyler Kettler and Jerry Ennett couldn’t fool the Rangers goalie which left all the pressure in Nick Boyer’s hands. Boyer came in fast, released a quick snapshot and….hit the post! Final score 5-4 Rangers!
