The final week of play heading into Christmas saw the Minor Midgets suffer 3 consecutive losses.
After a big win against the Brantford 99ers, the Lakers were unable to build upon that success. Losses against Waterloo, Cambridge and Elgin-Middlesex caused the team to skid into the Christmas break.
The Toronto Marlies Holiday Classic, played annually between Christmas and New Year's, would see the boys face some very tough opponents. Their draw included the Guelph Gryphons and the Don Mills Flyers, both currently or formerly ranked in the Top 10 teams in Ontario. In addition, the Lakers would face the Richmond Hill Coyotes for the third time this season (with a win and a loss already against them) and the Toronto Titans.
The first two games (Guelph and Richmond Hill) ended in 1-1 and 0-0 ties respectively. Don Mills and Toronto Titans would defeat the Lakers by scores of 3-1 (with an empty netter) and 1-0 respectively. Both of these teams would advance to the playoff round, with Don Mills eventually losing in the final. While the results weren't what the players and coaches had hoped for, the Lakers defensive-zone play and goaltending was excellent and kept them in all of their games. Goal scoring has been hard to come by as of late, but the chances have been there, so it would seem a matter of time before the boys get back in the "W" column.
Perhaps as early as next weekend, when the squad makes their annual trek through Southern Ontario to visit the Sun County Panthers, the Windsor Jr. Spitfires and the Chatham-Kent Cyclones. First up is some rest with the New Year's weekend off and then back to practice before heading south.