PeeWees Close Out Regular Season Against League Leaders, News, Major PeeWee, 2007-08 (Huron Perth Lakers)

ALLIANCE HOCKEY Digital Network

News Article
News Article Image
Jan 30, 2008 | awilliams | 681 views
PeeWees Close Out Regular Season Against League Leaders
The PeeWee Lakers closed out the regular season with 3 straight losses; however, they head into the play-offs feeling confident in their play.

After winning back-to-back regular season games for the first time this season, the PeeWees dropped 3 successive matches, 2 to East and West Division leaders Waterloo and London respectively.

On January 19th, the Lakers hosted the Knights in Brussels. The teams played a tight checking 1st period, with no goals to show for either team. London opened up in the 2nd period, scoring 3 goals. They closed out the scoring in the 3rd with a late period goal. Ben Errington played a strong game in goal and could not be faulted for the London goals.

On January 20th, the team headed to Waterloo to play the East Division leading Waterloo Wolves. The teams again played a scoreless 1st period with good chances at both ends of the rink. The 2nd period saw action pickup, with the Lakers firing 9 shots at the Waterloo goalie; the Wolves firing 13 shots at Lakers goalie Joe Metzger.  Despite a strong period, the team entered the 3rd period down 2 goals, one off the powerplay and one off a goal-mouth scramble.

The 3rd period only saw 1 goal, a late period tally by the Wolves to close out the scoring 3-0.

The team closed out the regular season on January 22nd with a 5-1 loss against the Cambridge Hawks in what can best be described as a very frustrating manner. Regretfully, the teams were not able to decide the outcome of the game on their own, as the referee of record handed out an astounding 18 minor penalties and 2 game misconducts.  Any time either team got a bit of flow to their game, penalties would be called and delays would ensue as the referee explained the thinking behind his creative approaches to play calling. In one delayed penalty, the referee explained away the fact that he waited until the 3rd time we touched the puck to blow the play down by saying he wanted to give us a break and get the face-off in the other end!?!

Adding to penalty woes was weather as a number of Lakers players were unable to make the game.  Needless to say, the players left standing at the end of the game were somewhat tired.

Scoring HP’s goal was PJ Conlon, with an assist to Matt McCracken. The goal brought the game to 2-1, where it stayed until late in the 2nd period when Cambridge extended their lead to 2 goals.

The loss confirmed that the Lakers would start their play-offs in Waterloo against the Wolves.