The Minor Bantams headed off to Toronto for the popular Marlies’ Tournament the day after Boxing Day. The tournament would have some great highlights as the team finished first in their pool and second overall in the round robin, however a weak showing in the first playdown game sent the team home earlier than expected.
Minor Bantams vs Markham Majors
Lakers dominate the first game of the round robin, Taylor earns shut-out.
Summary
Goaltender: Kent Taylor
1st period, Roland McKeown would open the scoring on a great individual effort.
2nd period, on the power play McKenzie Carter would fire a hard shot to extend the lead.
2nd period, McKeown and Ryan Stulp would work the puck across the blue line and find Jared Weishar who would extend the Lakers’ lead.
2nd period, Derek Elliott would make a great cross-ice feed to Nathan Templeman for his first of the tournament.
3rd period, Some strong defensive play by Carter Stewart, Alex Peters, Bayley Boyes, Riley Roberts, Garrett James and goaltender Kent Taylor to kill off three third period penalties were the highlights of the period and assured Taylor’s shut-out
Final 4-0 Lakers. Shots 32-12 in favour of the Lakers.
Minor Bantams vs Eastern Ontario Wild
Lakers’ power play begins to take shape and Dekoning stops 15 of 16.
Summary
Goaltender: Daniel Dekoning
1st period, on the power play Drew Gross would slip in all alone to open the scoring.
2nd period, Bayley Boyes would tip in a low point shot from Jacob Middleton for his first of the tournament.
3rd period, the Wild would open the period with a quick goal to pull within one.
3rd period, on the power play gross would feed McKeown to regain the two-goal lead.
3rd period, McKeown would finish the scoring on his own to assure the victory.
Final 4-1 Lakers, Shots 19-16 in favour of the Lakers.
Minor Bantams vs Brampton Battalion
Special teams would be the story of the game as the Lakers converted on 3 of 5 power plays to cruise to a 6-1 victory. McKeown gets the hat trick!
Summary
Goaltender: Kent Taylor
1st period Jacob Middleton would score on an unassisted end-to-end rush.
2nd period, on the power play Keegan McClelland would feed Roland McKeown to take a two-goal lead.
2nd period, On the power play, Drew Gross would work the puck off the boards to Middleton who’s point shot rebound would be fired home by Quinten Haddock.
2nd period, Brampton would score their only goal on a shot from the short side.
3rd period, on the power play, Alex Peters would make a great play to stop a clearing attempt and then fire a hard shot in for the fourth goal.
3rd period, McKenzie Carter would feed Roland McKeown who had slid in from the blue line to take a four-goal lead.
3rd period, Haddock and Jared Weishar would combine with McKeown to give him the hat trick.
Final 6-1 Lakers. Shots 33-18 in favour of the Lakers.
Minor Bantams vs Amherst Knights
Early morning game catches Lakers sleeping and almost causes the Lakers to miss advancing.
Summary
Goaltender: Daniel Dekoning
1st period, on the power play Middleton’s cross-ice pass was one timed by Peters and Derek Elliott banged the resulting rebound home.
2nd period, Carter and Roberts would work the puck out from behind the net to Nathan Templeman to give the Lakers a two-goal lead.
2nd period, the Knights would get on the scoreboard on a bad turnover.
2nd period, Gross would respond 30 seconds later with assists going to Roberts and Peters, to restore the lead.
2nd period, Gross would get his second of the game with assists going to Boyes and McLelland.
3rd period, with a three goal lead the Minor Bantams lost focus and Amherst took advantage with two quick goals to start the third. Dekoning and the Lakers penalty killing crew were called to duty to kill off four penalties including a two-minute 5 on 3 to hold on to the lead.
Final 4-3 Lakers, Shots 35-22 in favour of the Lakers.
Minor Bantams vs Elgin Middlesex Chiefs
It was déjà vu as for the second time in a row the Minor Bantams would face off against their league rivals the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs. The last meeting of these two was a rough penalty-filled affair, this time however both teams would remain penalty free and EMC would shut-out the Lakers for the first time this year.
Summary
Goaltender: Kent Taylor
1st period, action was end to end but neither team could find the back of the net.
2nd period, EMC dominated the second period and while Taylor stopped two 2 on 1’s, Elgin-Middlesex would finally slip one in on a pile up in front of the Lakers' net. Taylor would keep it close as Elgin-Middlesex would continue to press.
3rd period, Elgin-Middlesex would score early in the third on a bad turnover in the Lakers' corner that had the Elgin-Middlesex sharpshooter walk in all alone.
3rd period, Elgin-Middlesex would extend their lead 30 seconds later when a defender deflected a low Elgin-Middlesexx shot over Taylor’s shoulder.
3rd period, Drew Gross looked like he had a chance to get the team back into the game as he picked up a cross ice pass all alone on front of the net, but fired wide on a day when the puck just wouldn’t bounce the Lakers’ way.
Final 3-0 EMC. Shots 23-10 in favour of EMC
Written by Jeff Taylor