Oh... It's On!!
Stewart's Lakers Even The Series!! Game 5 Here We Come!!Scott Coghlin's first period rush ended with the mobile defender cutting in for a shot from the right and the puck sitting in the goal crease. Enter Brandon Priestap who dug furiously at the puck until he was swarmed by an angry mob of Chiefs. Assistant Captain Coghlin really lead the team through this all important first period, his hard work and will to win setting the bar for his teammates. The Lakers had two power play opportunities in the first but were unable to convert.
The beginning of the second period was difficult for Lakers fans to watch as the Chiefs poured it on. One of Drew Reinhardt's posts made its first save of the game. Ty Bilcke and Scott Coghlin pitched in with stinging shot blocks. On a third power play opportunity, Jake Ringuette baffled two defenders by faking shots and making moves to get into a scoring position. His bullet slap shot hit the goalie and while Brady Wiffen poked at the puck a Chief knocked the net off its moorings. The ref missed that bit and sent Colt Pickett to the sin bin instead - the reason is still a mystery. A 'three-hander' to Shawn Moore's arm negated the Chiefs' advantage but a penalty to Scott Coghlin restored it. Jake Ringuette was a workhorse on this penalty kill, battling in the corner and sliding to block passes. Midway through the second, Ringuette launched the blue line to blue line hockey equivalent of a Hail Mary pass to Brady Wiffen. It worked and Wiffen was off on a partial breakaway. Resisting the urge to shoot, Wiffen carried the puck to a point behind the end line and then sent a perfect pass out to Ryan Watson who charged in for the one-timer... 1-0. Brady Wiffen had another breakaway opportunity but his snapshot to the top left corner just missed. The Chiefs nearly tied it but again Drew Reinhardt's post got in the way. Just before going behind the net, Ray Huether sent a surprise pass out front to Brandon Priestap but the slushy crease caused the puck to wobble and Priestap’s shot sailed over the net.
Twenty-one seconds into the third period, Priestap’s determination was rewarded. Streaking in from the right side Priestap one-timed a low slapper that found its way through legs and sticks into the back of the net. Drew Reinhardt protected the two goal lead by stopping a clear-cut breakaway. Jeff McArdle did a great job in front of the net, using his feet to block pucks and then clear them into the corner. The Chiefs finally got one back with a screen shot that travelled through a crowd of players. Bantam 'call-up' P.J. Conlon took a few shifts, at one time diving to interfere with a shooter. Braydon Blight also joined the team and played solidly when called upon. For the Huron-Perth faithful, the third period was even more difficult to watch as the Chiefs turned up the heat. A Lakers penalty with 3:24 left to play put the lead in jeopardy but, as the Chiefs did their best to score, the penalty killing units, goalie Reinhardt, and his goalpost responded magnificently. David Sproat challenged a shooter, taking one off the toe, and later managed to sweep the puck over the blue line. With the Chiefs' goalie sitting on the bench, Jerry Ennett spent the game's final few seconds chasing a puck toward the empty net. The speedster didn't catch up, the puck missed the net but no one cared....final score 2-1, series tied 2-2, back to Aylmer for Game #5.
AYLMER - 7PM - BE THERE!!
Tonight's game in Aylmer will be one to remember and the high flying Lakers are in the driver's seat. Jesse DeGroote will be back in the Lakers' lineup. Ty Bilcke will be out. Bilcke took exception to teammate Liam Maaskant's helmet being pulled off - with no penalty assessed to the Chiefs' player - and took it upon himself to impose the 'code of the east' (division). The Chiefs captain Ryan Shipley was involved in the dispute and will also miss tonight's game. The rugged Shipley leads the Chiefs and his presence on an already short-handed defense will be missed.
Article by: Paul Sproat