After playing 17 league games, Chris Stewart's Minor Midgets are the top team in the East Division with 28 points by virtue of a 13 win, 2 loss, and 2 tie record.
The Chiefs sit atop the West Division with 29 points but have played one more game than the Lakers. The Chiefs also lead the league with 81 goals for followed closely by the Lakers with 72.
London
For the second time in two games the Jr. Knights were just strong enough out of the gate to ruin a shutout bid before being completely dominated by the Lakers. This time the Green team scored 1:10 into the first period, just before Drew Reinhardt closed the gate. Exactly two and a half minutes later, Jerry Ennett tied the game on a penalty kill. Stealing the puck in the neutral zone, Ennett raced in for the deke; first to the backhand and then just as he ran out of real estate, over to the forehand and in. Ray Huether's line took care of the next three goals with Brandon Priestap scoring on a power play and Shawn Moore scoring shorthanded and at even strength. In all this hardworking trio would account for 5 of the team's goals and 13 of the team's 21 points on the night. In the second period, Scott Coghlin and Jake Ringuette teamed up for the defensive play of the game, pursuing an attacker until Coghlin caught up and prevented a shot on goal. In the third period, Scott Coghlin's point shot went wide but ended up - with some help from Jerry Ennett - on Jesse DeGroote's stick at the other point. For DeGroote, who has scored from the far end of the rink and even the bench, an accurate blast from the blue line was relatively easy. Ray Huether waited until the last two minutes of the third period before popping in the last two goals of the 8-1 victory.
Chatham-Kent
Twenty two seconds in, Moore to Huether to Priestap and its 1-0 Lakers in the Battle of Bothwell. With the Lakers down a man the Cyclones tied it up at 6:24. Midway through the period, with Scott Coghlin trailing, Ty Bilcke crossed the blue line and attempted to plough through the defense. As the dust settled, Coghlin picked up the puck and, drifting toward the left corner, executed a back pass toward the front of the net. Jerry Ennett found the puck there and the score was 2-1. Cian Patterson-March prevented the Cyclones from again evening the score with a leg save at the buzzer. For a close game it was quite physical. Behind the Lakers net Jake Ringuette was slightly winded after a fire hydrant ran into him but the rugged defenseman shook it off and resumed battling attackers in front of the net until the end of the shift.
In the second period of this ‘see-saw' battle Ty Bilcke set up the 3-1 goal with a centering pass to Ryan Watson. A Cyclone forward drifting through the Lakers defense made it 3-2. A wobbly, hard to contain snapshot contributed to another tie at 3-3. Liam Maaskant tried to make it 4-3 but hit the post with a shot. Ryan Watson’s shot hit the goalie, leaving the puck in the crease for Ty Bilcke to bat in. Four to three now, and looking to restore a two goal lead, Jake Ringuette snapped one off the post. The Cyclones took advantage of this near miss and again tied the game, this time at four goals apiece. Eleven seconds later Brandon Priestap slid a Ray Huether rebound across the line. Huether helped set up the next goal as well, rushing in at the defense and turning backwards to face his line mates who were trailing. A soft pass, a shot by Shawn Moore, a rebound to Brandon Priestap and it’s 6-4. The Cyclones closed the gap again to one goal. With three minutes left and the score 6-5, a power play passing clinic ended with Jerry Ennett sliding the puck to Jake Ringuette for the quick shot. Final score 7-5.
Article by: Paul Sproat