On Saturday December 20, the Lakers traveled to Waterloo to face off against the Wolves. The Major Atoms had an excellent jump in the first period and were ahead of the Wolves 3-1 by early into the second. Lakers goals came from
Luka Marinic on a play from
MacKinnon Hawkins and
Jacob Hrudka;
Cole McKee with assists to
Hawkins and
Grant McPherson and
Chayse Herrfort from
Nick Jung and
Hawkins.
Wyatt Nicholson was strong all game in net for the Lakers.
Penalty calls in the second and third allowed the Wolves to get back in the game, as penalty killing took a toll on the Lakers' energy level. The game was tied a three a piece by the end of the second. The Wolves moved ahead with two power play goals early in the third period but Spencer Dowd fired one from the point to bring the Lakers within one. The Lakers made a game of it with a late surge. With the goalie pulled, Waterloo scored an empty netter, to go up 6-4 but this game was not over as McKee again brought the team within one on a pass from Herrfort with 30 seconds remaining. Once again the goalie was pulled and the Lakers had some great chances in the last seconds of the game, but could not get the equalizer. Overall, a strong game for the Lakers competing hard against one of the league’s top teams.
On Sunday the Lakers were on the road again, this time to Brantford to challenge the 99’ers. The team showed up ready to play and salvage something of the weekend. The Lakers had good end to end play throughout the first and second periods. The score was tied at one a piece at the end of the first with a goal for the Lakers from Herrfort.
In the second period, a Brantford defenceman had to haul down a streaking Liam Melady, resulting in a penalty shot. Melady had the goalie beat on a “Shake and Bake” move, only to lose control of the puck. Joab Egbers was solid between the pipes keeping the score at 2-1 at the end of the second.
The Lakers dug in hard throughout the third and tried to force the play on the 99’ers. There were multiple scoring opportunities prior to Herrfort scoring his second of the game with a couple of minutes to go; on a terrific play from Justin McCarter and McKee. With the score tied the Lakers fought hard for the go ahead goal. Herrfort had another opportunity with only seconds remaining. Perhaps he would have buried the wrist shot, if he’d stop taking shooting lessons from his father.
The Major Atoms will be traveling to Burlington for the 41st Annual Golden Horseshoe Tournament from the 27th to the 30th of December. Regular season resumes January 2nd in Hamilton against the Reps.