Bantams vs. Rochester Alliance
The Lakers began their International Silver Stick round robin against the Rochester Alliance. The first period was a very even affair with both teams generating some great chances. Lakers goalie
Kent Taylor was called upon often to keep the score even at zero. Late in the period
Jacob Middleton made a great diving play to break up a two on one that was looking very dangerous.
Lakers forwards Riley Roberts and Keegan McLelland would start the second period with a great chance of their own on a two on one. Roberts made a great pass to Mclelland who forced the Rochester goalie to make a great save to keep the score at zero. The Lakers would have another great chance on the power play when the line of Templeman, Carter and Elliott kept the puck deep in the Rochester end but a hard shot by Carter could not find the back of the net. With three minutes to go Rochester would take the lead when they sprang one of their forwards on a clear breakaway. A great top shelf shot gave them the one goal lead going into the break.
The Lakers came right back early in the third when Templeman passed off to Stewart who carried the puck deep into the Rochester end and feathered a pass across to Elliott who evened things up. The score would stay even although both teams would have some great chances until late in the third when the Laker power play was given another opportunity. Mckeown passed across ice to James who fed the puck to Boyes. Boyes would then bury his own rebound to take the lead with three minutes to go. Boyes would extend the lead just 28 seconds later on an unassisted goal with a great shot from the slot. The Lakers would add some excitement with two to go when Templeman took a delay of game penalty. Some great penalty killing by Gross, James, Peters, Middleton and Taylor guaranteed the two points. Final 3-1 Lakers.
Minor Bantams vs. Toronto Marlboros
This was a highly anticipated game that delivered all of the excitement that was expected. The Minor Bantam Lakers showed little respect for the highly touted Marlies and came out firing on all cylinders. Just two minutes into the game Alex Peters would prevent a Marlies clearing attempt, then unleash a huge slap shot that cleanly beat the Marlies keeper to put the Lakers in the lead. Two minutes later the Marlies would respond and tie the score in what would become the pattern of the game. Two minutes after the Marlies goal a shot from outside the blue line by Garrett James from Bayley Boyes would put the Lakers back in the lead. However the Marlies would again tie it up a few minutes later. Still in the first Rolan McKeown would carry the puck down the left side and feed a great pass to Drew Gross who was flying to the net. Gross would finish the play with a beautiful goal to restore the Laker lead.
The second period was all Marlies and if not for some great goaltending by Daniel Dekoning, the Lakers may have finished the period well behind instead of just even. Ryan Stulp made a great play late in the second when a puck got in behind Dekoning and Stulp beat a Marlie to the puck to clear it away.
The Marlies showed why they are the best team in Canada as they came out with two quick goals in the third to take a two goal lead. However the Lakers showed no quit as Jacob Middleton fired a hard slap shot that went right through the Marlies keeper to bring the Lakers within one. The line of Haddock, Gross and Weishar would get a chance to come within one but the Marlies goalie turned them away. This was as close as the Lakers would get though as the Marlies picked up a rebound to end the scoring.
Final 6-4 Marlies
Minor Bantams vs. Ottawa Senators
After the loss to the Marlies, the Lakers knew that they would need to win this one to make it out of the round robin. Ottawa was in the same boat however and came out hard scoring what would be their only goal of the game when a point shot deflected off of defenseman and past goaltender Taylor just after the one minute mark. The Lakers battled back and tied it up on a great unassisted goal by Gross.
In the second period the Lakers began to pour it on and Gross would get his second from Middleton and Weishar. With end to end action both goaltenders would become stingy though and this one stayed close until the third when the Lakers would extend their lead on an Elliott goal from Templeman to assure they moved on out of the round robin.
Final 3-1 Lakers.
Minor Bantams vs. Elgin Middlesex
The Lakers would face their local rivals the chiefs in this quarterfinal qualifier. After losing the last two games to the Lakers, the Chiefs came out on fire in this one and were up 2-0 after the first. They would extend their lead to 4-0 by the middle of the second and as the game became increasingly physical it was apparent that this was a rivalry that would last the year. Still in the second McLelland would pick up a rebound from James and Boyes to get the Lakers on the board. With some new found energy the Lakers would pull within two when Elliott fired a great shot on a pass from McKenzie and Stulp. However a quick goal by the Chiefs 50 seconds later sealed the game for the Chiefs. The third would have been better left not played as both teams got into some undisciplined play and increased the total penalty minutes to 30. These two teams seem destined to meet in the playoffs and if so it should rival any good junior hockey playoff series.
Final 5-2 Elgin.
Written by Jeff Taylor