Minor Bantams Aim to “REP”resent Themselves Well in 2nd Play-off Series, News, Minor Bantam, 2008-09 (Huron Perth Lakers)

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Mar 01, 2009 | awilliams | 1563410 views
Minor Bantams Aim to “REP”resent Themselves Well in 2nd Play-off Series
The HP Minor Bantams started their 2nd and final play-off series over the weekend, against the Hamilton AAA Reps. Playing games on both Saturday and Sunday, the Lakers and Reps head into the week tied at a game a piece in the best of 7 series.

Going into Game1 of their Series short 4 players due to suspensions, the Lakers knew they would have to dig deep. Unfortunately, lapses in intensity at the wrong moments ended up being the difference, with the Reps skating away with a 3-2 victory.

 

Coming off a tough 5 game series loss to the Chatham-Kent Cyclones, the Lakers could perhaps be forgiven for starting this second series a little slow. Add to the Series loss the fact that the team was playing without 4 regulars, all suspended for a post-game altercation against the Cyclones at the completion of the Series, and one could see a slow start coming. That said, the Team was focused before the game and felt good about their chances heading into the best of 7 Series.

 

The Reps opened the scoring less than 2 minutes into the game by cashing in a rebound that should have been cleared out of harms way by the Lakers on the ice. Despite some good scoring chances both ways, neither team found the back of the net again in the 1st period. The Lakers gave up the 2nd goal of the game, just 10 seconds after coming off some strong penalty killing, including a 5 on 3. The team’s strong showing on the penalty kill gave the team confidence, with the 2nd period ending up being their best of the game. The strong play culminated with a nice goal from the half-boards by Greg Orr, assisted by Iain Donnelly.

 

Heading into the 3rd period, the game saw some good chances either way, with both goalies, including the Lakers’ Graeme Lauersen shutting the door early. Late in the game, a Hamilton player was given a 5 minute penalty for checking from behind. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Brett Stacey had to leave the game after the hit with a knee injury.

 

This 5-minute penalty was followed by a couple of other Rep penalties, putting the Lakers on the power-play to finish the game. The team took advantage of the opportunity, with Jayden Landry tying the score with under 2 minutes to play in the game. Assists were picked up by Drew Wood and Carter Strachan. Despite finishing the game on the power-play, the Lakers could not close the deal and the teams headed for overtime.

 

Hamilton’s penalty trouble had the Lakers starting the overtime on a 5 on 3 power-play. Despite strong puck possession in the opposition’s end and 5 shots early on, the team could not solve the Rep goalie. A lack of urgency at times also gave Hamilton some good scoring chances while short-handed, ultimately resulting in the game winner with the Lakers still on a 5 on 4 power-play.

 

Heading into Game 2, the Lakers knew they had to come out hard. They did this, returning the Game 1 favour by taking a 1-0 lead under 2 minutes into the game. A low, hard point shot from Orr deflected a couple of times on the way to the net and Nick Castell was Johnny on the spot to pop in the rebound. Matt McCracken picked up the 2nd assist. The Lakers kept coming, going ahead by 2 before the game was 4 minutes old, when Jared Zufelt finished some hard play with line-mates Mike Siddall and Mac MacSorley.  This 2nd goal chased the Rep's starting goaltender.

 

Perhaps thinking a 2-goal lead was all that was needed, the urgency shown at the beginning of the game mysteriously disappeared, with the team leaving Joe Metzger, at times, alone to fend off wave after wave of Hamilton attackers. Fortunately, Metzger was up to the task, turning away 16 shots in the 2nd period alone, and continued to frustrate Hamilton shooters through until early in the 3rd when the Reps were final able to put one behind him with the help of a 5 on 3 power-play. The Lakers regained their 2-goal lead late in the period on a 5 on 3 of their own, when Greg Williams one-timed a nice cross ice pass from Donnelly into the back of the Rep net. Zufelt picked up the 2nd assist.

 

Game 3 will be played March 6th in Hensall, with the Lakers hoping to play the full 40 minutes at the same intensity level they started Game 2.