The Huron Perth Lakers Minor Atoms would face off against the Sun County Panthers Sunday at the MRC in Goderich.
The first period opened with the Panthers scoring just minutes into the game. The Minor Atoms would gain momentum with Trent Buchanan clearing the puck up to Trevor Donaldson. Donaldson would loose his footing and from the ice slide the puck to Brady Hinz who made no mistake top shelf. By the end of the first the Brantford had scored two unanswered goals and take the 3-1 lead. Laker goalie Riley Deline was stellar in net and would shut the Panthers offense down after the first period, denying them of any more goals.
The Minor Atoms’ offense would push back in the 2nd with good team play and moving the puck. Forwards Atkins, Dowd and Pearson’s strong skating and drives to the net would be turned away by the Panthers goalie. Offensive trio Owen Gilhula, Hinz and Donaldson would work the puck deep in Panther territory with aggressive hustle and forechecking. Trevor Donaldson would capitalize firing a loose puck off the goal post and in.
The Lakers would continue their offensive push late in the third with defenseman Trent Buchanan firing a shot from the point. Trevor Donaldson would tap in the rebound, scoring his second of the game and evening the score 3-3.
Despite taking a couple of penalties in the third period, the Lakers handled the Panthers’ power plays strongly with defencemen William Chisholm, Joshua McNaughton, Ryan Thede, Sam Tindall and Buchanan giving nothing away. Both teams traded scoring chances but no more goals were scored and the game would end in a 3-3 tie.
“We love you Lakers!!”
Saturday December 5th
Lakers vs Brantford 99ers
The Lakers and 99ers would meet for the first time this season in St Marys on Saturday December 5th. The Lakers came out flying with the drop of the puck. Keeping inside the blue line, William Chisholm would fire the puck deep into the 99ers' zone. Brady Hinz would pick up the puck and feed Trevor Donaldson waiting out front. Donaldson would pop in the first marker of the contest sliding the puck through the five hole. The tide turned quickly as Brantford would waste no time and scored 3 times before the end of the first.
Deja vu in the second period, with Hinz from the corner setting up Donaldson in front of the net. Trevor Donaldson would flick the puck over the goalie’s pad and find the back of the twine. The Lakers had some great scoring opportunities by McNaughton, Boyle, MacDonald and Parent but were denied by the 99ers’ goalie.
The 99ers would score twice more before Owen Gilhula’s strong digging along the boards would free the puck to Hinz who would tuck the puck in the side of the net.
Lakers goalie Tanner Knechtel, was kept on his toes the whole game and rose to the occasion again and again. The Lakers would be unable to mount a comeback. The Brantford 99ers wanted the puck more and would prove to be the better team, coming away with a 6-3 victory.