This past weekend the Major PeeWees took part in the London Early Bird Tournament and found themselves in the toughest of four divisions. With the winner of each division moving on to the semis it would take an undefeated record to advance.
Game 1 vs PK Warriors
In a crossover match from another division, the Lakers came out strong against an aggressive yet weaker skilled PK Warrior team from Southfield, Michigan. After 2 periods, the Lakers would be leading 5-0 on goals by Jared Nash, Jarrett Bogdon, Keenan Conlon, Josh Britton and Nicole Zabel. Assisting were Nash, Britton and Luka Marinic. The game was quickly getting out of hand and subsequently the Warrior coach was ejected from the game. In the third period, the Lakers would score twice more on goals by Britton from Nash and Jon Baker from Nick Jung and MacKinnon Hawkins. The lop-sided match did see the Lakers falling into bad habits and eventually gave up a late goal on a breakaway. 7-1 Laker win. Josh Britton – player of the game.
Game 2 vs Clarington Toros
The intensity and speed of their 2nd game would catch the Lakers off guard and the Toros would convert two power play chances in the 2nd period to take a 2-0 lead. The Lakers would have several great scoring opportunities as well but could not find the back of the net. Then, early in the 3rd, the Toros would go up 3-0 on an even strength goal and things were looking bad for the Lakers. However, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, Chayse Herrfort would give the Lakers some hope as he scored on a pass from Luke Goris. The Toros would then take a penalty and the Lakers' power play would go to work. Herrfort would score again on a nice passing play from Brent West and Nash to make it 3-2 and the comeback was on! The Toros would take another penalty 2 minutes later and it would only take a matter of seconds for West to score on a nice feed from Herrfort and Conlon, tying the game at 3-3. The Lakers would then be assessed a 5 minute checking from behind penalty and would spend the duration of the game killing it off. Tristan Lewis played brilliantly in goal facing over 30 shots and received a lot of help from his defence (Keaton Middleton, Ian Vandenheuvel, Hawkins, Zabel and Conlon). 3-3 tie. Chayse Herrfort – player of the game.
Game 3 vs Soo Ste. Marie
Saturday at noon the Lakers faced a must win situation facing the Soo and probably played their best game of the tournament. Herrfort would score from West and Goris on the power play but the Soo would quickly respond catching the Lakers defense off guard on a face off and scored on a breakaway. Nash would put the Lakers up 2-1 with an unassisted effort near the end of the 1st. Goris would then score on a feed from West on the powerplay. Bogdon would score on a Britton rebound to put the Lakers up 4-1 with Middleton assisting on the play. Bogdon would get his 2nd goal when he took a pass from Middleton and Nash making it 5-1 in the 3rd period. Lewis would again have a stellar game in net for the Lakers turning away several glorious opportunities from the Soo. 5-1 Laker win. Tristan Lewis – player of the game.
Game 4 vs Cambridge Hawks
After watching Clarington defeat the Soo 4-1 right before their game with Cambridge, the Lakers knew they would be in a tie breaker situation with Clarington and would need to win by a score of 5-1 to advance to the semis. The game started well with Nash scoring from Vandenheuvel and Herrfort scoring from West and Hawkins to make it 2-0 at the end of the 1st. Early in the 2nd however, the Hawks would get a breakaway on a horrific line change and score to make it 2-1. Near the end of the 2nd, Nash would get his 2nd goal from Vandenheuvel and Britton to put the Lakers up 3-1 but the Lakers' legs were looking very tired and the Hawks would score on the power play to make it 3-2. In the 3rd, the Lakers would simply run out of gas from the unpreparedness of a long afternoon between games and the Hawks would capitalize once more and tie the game at 3-3. 3-3 tie. Jared Nash – player of the game.
A great week-end of hockey that saw the Major PeeWees go undefeated and show a lot of character in a comeback tie against Clarington. Of note, the Toros went on to win the tournament going undefeated with their only lost point coming at the hands of the Lakers!