Minor Atom Lakers Lose Tight Series to Kitchener.
The Minor Atom Lakers faced off against the Kitchener
Rangers in the first round of the Alliance play downs.
Game 1 in Kitchener was a battle back and forth with the
home team taking the game 6-4. The Lakers goals were scored by Visneskie with
two and singles to Jewitt and Fraser. Assists on these goals went to Nicholson
and Hodge. The boys played hard against a well rounded Kitchener team that
never stops working. Bree was in the pipes and stopped a lot of rubber that was
thrown his way as the Lakers were out shot and out chanced.
In Game 2 the Lakers hosted the Rangers at the Allman in Stratford. The boys came out flying and played a great first period going up 1-0 heading to the middle frame. The lone first period goal was scored by Harmer with assists from Houben and Hodge.
In the second the Rangers took advantage of some Laker penalty trouble and scored five goals going up 5-1 heading to the third. Boersma was in the pipes and faced an onslaught of Ranger shots making some great saves.
In the third the two teams traded goals and the Rangers took a 6-2 win for a 2-0 series lead. The Lakers third period goal was scored by Harmer after being set up by Kipfer and Nicholson.
Game 3 was in Kitchener and was do or die for the Minor Atom Lakers. The coaching staff made some changes which proved extremely effective. The Lakers defence of Houben, Medhurst, Hodge, Coward, Nicholson and Coyne shut down a powerful Rangers offence everytime they entered the Lakers zone and birthday boy Bree made some stellar saves in the net to allow the Lakers to take game three 2-0. The Lakers first goal was scored by Harmer after a scramble in front of the Rangers net. Fraser picked up the lone assist on the Harmer goal. Jewitt sealed the victory for the Lakers with an unassisted empty net goal sending the series to game four.
Game 4 was in Goderich and what a game it was. The Lakers continued their shut down defence and the boys scored two first period goals going up 2-0 heading to the second. Goals were scored by Harmer unassisted and Visneskie from Olmstead and Marshall.
In the second the Rangers scored two quick goals to tie the game however late in the second Visneskie picked up his second of the game with a beauty top shelf goal. The lone assist on the Visneskie goal went to Barch.
This made for an incredible third period. The Rangers continued to press but the solid defensive corp and great goaltending of Bree turned them away again and again. However late in the third the Rangers tied the game at three on a power play sending this game to overtime. In overtime the play was back and forth with neither team playing it safe throwing everything they could at the opposing nets. With just under two minutes to go the Lakers took a penalty. However with the Rangers on a power play, Jewitt read it perfectly and intercepted a cross ice Ranger pass which sent him in all alone. Jewitt made an incredible move to his backhand but rang it off the post. A short time later the Rangers also took a penalty and the last minute of overtime was going to be four on four. With just 41 seconds left in OT a Ranger player found himself alone in the slot with the puck on his stick. His quick shot found the back of the net for a 4-3 Rangers win which sealed the series three games to one.
The Lakers had nothing to hang their heads about. After the coaching staff made a couple changes following game two this Lakers team played extremely well at both ends of the ice. They had shut down defence, great goaltending, and made the most of their offensive opportunities. Great job Lakers!!!
The Lakers now are relegated to the league playoffs where they will face off in a round robin with Brantford and Cambridge. Pleas check the Minor Atom Lakers website for game times and locations!!
Article written by Ryan olmstead