With two previous tournament championships under their belt already this season, the Minor PeeWee team still knew that winning tournaments doesn’t happen easily. That did not stop them, however, from going undefeated this past weekend in Kitchener’s 15 team tournament to claim yet another championship.
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3-2 vs Ajax-Pickering Raiders
The Lakers would take the lead on a penalty shot goal by
Chayse Herrfort after he was hauled down when
Jon Baker fed a nice pass springing him on a breakaway. The Raiders would score 2 second period goals to take the lead 2-1. Half way through the 3rd period
Brent West would find Herrfort with a pass for his 2nd of the game. Then in the dying minutes of the 3rd
Jared Nash would slap the puck in the Raiders zone as Herrfort would pressure a defender and come up with the puck and fire it home for the game winner; completing his hat trick.
Wyatt Nicholson would get the win in goal for the Lakers while Herrfort was awarded the game’s MVP.
3-2 vs St. Catherines Jr. Falcons
The Falcons would give the Lakers everything they could handle which can happen to any team when you fail to move your feet! There would be no scoring in the game until the 2nd period when Nick Jung would score getting help from Keaton Middleton and Luka Marinic. The Falcons would then score twice to take the lead before Justin McCarter would score from MacKinnon Hawkins and Jared Nash at the end of the 2nd period. It appeared as if the game would end in a tie until Nash would get a chip pass in the neutral zone from Middleton and make a great individual effort to score with only 1:06 remaining. Tristan Lewis would deny the Falcons any more goals and would get the win in net for the Lakers while Nash would be named the game’s MVP.
1-0 vs Burlington Eagles
In what would prove to be their most physical game of the tournament, the Lakers would manage only 7 shots while the Eagles would tally the same amount. 15 penalties would be assessed to the Eagles but it was not the Laker’s day on the power play as they would often fail to register a shot during the man advantage. The game would remain scoreless until the 2:01 mark of the 3rd period when Nick Jung would beat an Eagle defender to a dump in and then Luka Marinic would deliver a timely bodycheck on the Eagle’s defender freeing up the puck for Jung who would centre it from behind the goal line to Keaton Middleton who would snap it home for the game winner. Tristan Lewis would get the shut out while Middleton was awarded the game’s MVP. Shots 7-7.
3-1 vs Sudbury Wolves
Keaton Middleton would put the Lakers on the scoreboard first with an unassisted effort when a Wolves player would mistakenly fire the puck on his own net and Middleton would jam home the rebound. Nicole Zabel would constantly outwork the Wolves attackers during their next few possessions playing a very determined game. However, the Wolves would respond tying the game at 1-1 a short time later. Jared Nash would put the Lakers ahead after being set up by Chayse Herrfort and Jon Baker. Justin McCarter would add an insurance marker from Middleton and Jacob Hrudka. Wyatt Nicholson would get the win in net while Nicole Zabel would claim MVP honours for the game. Shots 17-15 in favour of the Lakers.
2-1 vs South Central Coyotes
In the semi-final, Nick Jung would score first for the Lakers from Keaton Middleton and Jacob Hrudka after Keenan Conlon would do a good job of keeping the puck in the zone for his forwards. There would be no scoring in the 2nd period but the Coyotes would draw even in the 3rd on the power play and seemed to gain a little momentum on the Lakers. Then a Laker player would get tripped in the last minute and a half of the game putting the Lakers on the power play. Good puck movement between Brent West and Chayse Herrfort would eventually allow Herrfort to take a slap shot from the point which would be nicely redirected by Middleton for the game winner with only 32 seconds remaining in the game. Wyatt Nicholson would take the win in net and Middleton would be awarded the game’s MVP. Shots 17-12 in favour of the Lakers.
1-0 vs North York Rangers
In a rematch of the Chicago tournament final a few weeks ago, the Rangers advanced by a thrilling shootout win over the Markham Waxers to once again face the Laker squad. The Lakers would create many scoring opportunities but could not solve the Rangers goaltender during their dominance of the first 2 periods allowing only 3 shots! Finally at 9:14 of the 3rd period, Ian Vanden Heuvel would intercept a Ranger pass while also taking out the intended receiver with a solid bodycheck. This allowed Luka Marinic to chip the puck ahead to Chayse Herrfort who would break in all alone and make no mistake, deking the Ranger goalie to score what would eventually be the only goal of the game. Tristan Lewis would take the shutout win while Jon Baker would be named the game’s MVP. Shots 17 for the Lakers and only 4 for the Rangers!
Congratulations Lakers from your coaches and parents!