As was anticipated, the championship series between the Lakers and the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs has turned out to be a tight one with one tie and the rest of the games decided by one goal. Both teams are showing up for the game with one goal in mind - the title of “Alliance Champions!” The Lakers lead the series by two points over the Chiefs with games slotted this weekend.
Game 3 in Palmerston:
Tuesday night brought the Lakers to Palmerston where they beat the Chiefs 2-1 in front of a capacity crowd. The Lakers set the bar high early with a lot of physical play, intensity, and speed. As with every game during this series, the first period brought no goals. The second period saw Elgin-Middlesex score the first goal. Shortly after that, Roland McKeown rifled a slapshot into the corner of the net from Drew Gross to tie the game. Late in the third period, Carter Stewart battled for the puck and passed it up ice to Derek Elliot. Elliot found Mackenzie Carter cutting to the middle. Although the Chiefs' defence tried to pull him down, Carter battled through it to score the winning goal. Kent Taylor made some stellar saves and pulled out some unique moves to help seal the deal.
Game 4 in Aylmer:
In a game that found the Lakers lacking the speed they had the night before, the Chiefs would capitalize by scoring first in the second period. Quinten Haddock would answer back with the Lakers' first goal assisted by Jared Wieshar and Gross. The teams left the ice between the 2nd and 3rd periods tied at 1-1. The Chiefs came out and scored the first goal of the third period to take the lead once again. The two teams battled hard around the boards. Stewart received the puck at the blue line and took a hard slapshot on net and Haddock was there to tip it in to tie the game. Daniel Dekoning made some key saves throughout the game to keep it close. The Chiefs quickly rebounded and deflected the puck in for the go ahead goal to make it 3-2. With a little over a minute left in the game, the Lakers pulled their goalie. The Chiefs intercepted a mid-ice pass and scored an empty netter to go ahead 4-2. The Lakers didn’t give up. Jacob Middleton found Garrett James in the slot and he flipped it over the goalie’s pads to make it 4-3. Unfortunately time ran out and the Chiefs came away with their first victory of the series.
Next action is this Saturday in Milverton at 6:30 pm. It is once again anticipated to be a well attended game with a capacity crowd. The Lakers will then travel to Strathroy’s Gemini Centre on Sunday at 3:30 for the sixth game of the series.
written by Rob James