The Huron Perth Lakers AAA Major Atoms played two Alliance league games this past weekend. The Lakers traveled to London on Jan. 6th to take on the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs and hosted the Kitchener Jr. Rangers in Clinton on Jan. 7th.
The match up with the Chiefs had the Lakers come out flat for the first period. The Chiefs continually forced the play and the period ended with the Chiefs up 1-0. Only some fine goaltending by Lakers goalie Cole Willemsen kept the score from being higher.
The second period play was a bit more even but the Lakers could not solve the Chiefs net minder and scored two goals to up the score to 3-0.
Head coach Jamie Petrie rallied his team and encouraged them not to quit. The Lakers found their skating legs and put forth a good effort in the final period. The team was finally rewarded on a very good passing play as Quinton Haddock and Gregory Swan teamed up to get the puck to Jared McCann who made a nice move on the goalie to make the score 3-1. Goalie Willemsen made some great saves to keep the score close and give his team a chance to come back. With over 2 minutes remaining the Lakers pulled Willemsen in favour of an extra attacker. The Chiefs picked up a loose puck and three Chiefs were striding towards an empty Laker net but defenseman Garrett James made the save on the shot. The Lakers reversed the play and continued to apply pressure in the Chiefs zone but could not buy a goal. The final score was Chiefs 3 and Lakers 1 leaving the season series at a game a piece for these league rivals.
The Lakers hosted the Kitchener Jr. Rangers on Jan. 7th in Clinton. The Lakers started quickly and scored the first two goals. Four minutes into the game Gregory Swan chipped the puck to Garrett James. He slide a nice pass to Quinton Haddock who put a terrific shot past the Kitchener goalie. One minute later Haddock made a heads up pass to Nathan Templeman who lifted a high shot into the Ranger goal to make the score 2-0. Late in the period the Rangers scored to make the score 2-1.
The 2nd period was all Kitchener as the Jr. Rangers scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead.
The third period saw the Lakers take a few undisciplined penalties which stymied their come back attempt. Five minutes into the 3rd period the Jr. Rangers scored their 5th goal. The Lakers continued to battle and would not quit. While killing a penalty James made a super play to control the puck at the Ranger blue line. He feathered a pass to defense partner Carter Stewart. Stewart cruised towards the Ranger net and unloaded a cannon of a shot which easily beat the Ranger goalie. Time ran out and the Lakers were on the losing end of a 5-3 score.
Next up for the Major Atom Lakers is a game on Jan. 14th in Clinton at 4:30pm as they host the Brantford 99’ers.