The Minor Midget Lakers had two games on the schedule last weekend, the first being played against Waterloo.
Waterloo Wolves
Perhaps hoping to shake the team out of their recent depression, coaches Chris Stewart and Kevin Meriam shuffled the lines a bit. For this weekend anyway, Brady Wiffen would centre Shawn Moore and David Sproat, Ray Huether was between Ty Bilcke and Ryan Watson, and Jerry Ennett was flanked by Colt Pickett and Brandon Priestap. On Saturday, the Lakers out shot the pesky Wolves 27-13 but once again could eke out only a one goal victory - on only one goal!
Midway into the first period it looked like the Wolves had one but the puck didn't make it further than the goal line. Ray Huether replied with an attempt but this time his money in the bank backhand deke found the post. On the penalty kill, David Sproat forced a turnover behind the Wolves' net but was turned away on the wraparound attempt. Jerry Ennett put on a checking clinic, effortlessly squeezing an opponent into the boards and coming away with the puck.
In the second period, David Sproat took control of the puck behind the Wolves net and sent a pass back to a pinching Jake Ringuette. Ringuette's low wrist shot was uncontrollable and the puck bounced straight onto the stick of Shawn Moore who took advantage of the half open net to make it 1-0. Scary moment in the second period when Ty Bilcke collided knee on knee with a defender but the big winger was ready for the next shift, a little slow but no worse for wear. With time running out in the second and Jake Ringuette in the bin for a questionable two or less call, Spencer Ball and Scott Coghlin did a great job of moving Wolves out of the way to give goalie Drew Reinhardt a clear view of the puck. Reinhardt showed his appreciation by making a couple of big saves. On the same penalty kill, Shawn Moore embarrassed a Waterloo defenseman by intercepting his pass from the blue line and sending the puck the length of the ice for him to retrieve. Give Waterloo credit for pressing right until the buzzer. In the last 5 seconds, Reinhardt was called on to make his final big save. Jake Ringuette and Scott Coghlin were entangled in the goal crease doing whatever was necessary to keep the puck out. With 2.6 left on the clock, Brady Wiffen was waved out of the faceoff circle. Jerry Ennett took over, immobilized the puck, and even got a shot off toward the empty net. Final score 1-0.
London Gold
On Sunday, the Lakers met London Gold for the first time in awhile, having missed an opportunity to play them in the final of the Brantford tourney (Lakers lost the semi to Ottawa in overtime - Ottawa beat London 4-1 to win the championship). Goalie Cian Patterson-March got a break early on when an attacking player snuck in behind him to receive a pass but fired it behind him and wide of the far post. Patterson-March was solid all game, making 20 saves, but especially so in the first period while killing off a lengthy two man deficit. Brandon Priestap contributed to the kill with at least one shot block. Lakers began the second period with a power play but were unable to capitalize. The Gold scored first with a lucky one and then made it 2-0 with a well executed 2 on 1. In the third, Jake Ringuette was doing everything he could to keep his team in the game. At one point, #7 was positioned behind his own goalie and making some pretty nice saves. On a power play, Ringuette took a pass relay from Scott Coghlin and Ryan Watson and buried a slap shot to make it 1-0. Before the game ended, the big defenseman fired 3 or 4 more 'howies' from the blue line but couldn't find any net. Lakers outshot the Gold 25-22 but were outscored 2-1.
As of Dec 22, the '94 Minor Midgets are tied with the Chiefs - 41 pts - for second place in the league. London Gold is on top with 44 pts. Both the Chiefs and the Gold have one game at hand.
Article by: Paul Sproat