Minor Atom Lakers Clinch Nations Cup for Canada in Michigan, News, Minor Atom, 2016-2017 (Huron Perth Lakers)

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Jan 31, 2017 | cvisneskie | 622 views
Minor Atom Lakers Clinch Nations Cup for Canada in Michigan
During the weekend of Jan 21st the Minor Atom Lakers traveled to Ann Arbor to play in the 2017 Nations Cup.  

In the round robin round the Lakers had to face off against the Chicago Hawks in Game 1. The Lakers set the tone early taking an early 2-0 lead with goals from Marshall who took a pass from Hodge in front and spun and fired it home. Second assist on the goal went to Olmstead. The Lakers second goal was fired home by Harmer on a breakaway when Jewitt found him breaking behind the Hawks defence. Second assist on the goal went to Hodge.


In the second period the Hawks scored to cut the Lakers lead to 2-1. But in the third the Lakers restored their two goal lead when Marshall jumped on a loose puck and banged it home. Assists on the goal went to Olmstead and Kipfer. The Hawks scored a late one in the third but the Lakers defence core of Coward, Hodge, Coyne, Nicholson and Medhurst and the timely saves of Bree preserved the Lakers 3-2 win.

 

In Game 2 the Lakers faced the Sylvania North Stars from Ohio. This team is ranked in the top 10 in the US and it showed. They moved the puck extremely well and their goalie made some incredible saves. After the first two periods the Lakers were staying with the North Stars and were only done 2-0 heading to the third. However the Lakers ran out of gas in the third and the North Stars took the game 6-0.

 

Heading into Saturday the Lakers knew they had to win their next two games to finish near the top of their division. Their first test was against the Bulldogs from Chicago. The Lakers played well taking the game 7-5. Goals went to Harmer with three, and singles to Visneskie, Barch, Houben and Jewitt. Assists on these goals went to Hodge with three, Barch with two, and singles to Visneskie,  Coyne, Houben and Jewitt. 

 

Game 4 saw the Lakers play a local team, Victory Honda from Plymouth Michigan. Another big win, 7-4 as the Lakers defence played well and joined the offensive rush. Boersma picked up the win with some great highlight reel saves and even had an assist on the last goal of the game. Goals in this game went to Harmer with three and singles to Marshall, Kipfer, Fraser and Visneskie. Assists on these markers went to Nicholson with two, Coward with two, Hodge with two and singles to Olmstead, Marshall, Medhurst, Barch and Houben.

 

With a 3-1 record the Lakers were tied for first in the Canadian division with Niagara however goals for and against placed the Lakers into the second seed. This seeding placed them up against the Chicago Fury another top ranked team in the US.

 

The Lakers came out flying in this game scoring only 40 seconds into the game when Hodge fired in a shot from the point after taking a pass from Houben. The second assist on the goal went to Harmer.

 

The Lakers kept their foot on the gas and played one of their best games of the season winning 8-1. The forwards moved the puck with ease and won every little battle. The defence played amazing in their own end keeping the Fury to the outside and frustrating them every time they entered the zone. The goal tending tandem of Bree and Boersma played fantastic as any opportunity the Fury did have left them shaking their heads as Bree and Boersma made some great saves. The rest of the goals in this game went to Jewitt and Harmer who each picked up a hat trick. The other goal went to Visneskie. Assists on these goals went to Fraser with two, Jewitt with two, Coward with two and singles to Medhurst, Harmer, Nicholson, Barch, Houben and Marshall.

 

This win clinched the Nations Cup for Canada with only one game remaining, which was also won by the Halton Hurricanes. Canada took Championship Sunday with 16 points out of a possible 20. Thanks to all the players, coaching staff and families for an incredible weekend!!!