Nov. 11 vs Kitchener
It was a matter of getting on the scoreboard early against the Jr. Rangers as Jared Nash would score from Brent West and Chayse Herrfort would score from Jon Baker to make it 2-0.
Kitchener would crank up the physical play after that and it would be somewhat effective as there would be no more scoring in the game. Things would get a little silly with a frustrated Kitchener squad as they would send a steady stream of players to the penalty box in the 3rd period but the Lakers could not bury their chances. Shots were 33-10 in favour of the Lakers with Wyatt Nicholson getting the shutout.
Nov. 13 vs Hamilton
Trying to bounce back from a previous tie in Hamilton earlier, the Lakers would again struggle with the Reps and find themselves playing catch up for almost the entire game. Hamilton would score 1st but Jon Baker would bang in a loose puck during a goal mouth scramble as line mates Herrfort and Jarret Bogdon would both be digging aggressively in front as well. The Reps would take the lead again before Nick Jung would score with only 0.1 seconds on the clock at the end of the 2nd period.
The Reps would stifle any Laker momentum with a quick goal to start the third period and Laker passes were not on as a result of Hamilton stepping up their game physically. With about 7 minutes left however, the Reps would make a horrible line change allowing West to take a rink long pass off the boards from Keenan Conlon and waltz in all alone on the Reps goalie tying the game at 3-3. Liam Melady would answer the Reps physical play by delivering a ‘bone cruncher’ check at mid ice which seemed to free up a little space for his line mates. Then, as luck would have it, West would find the Reps making another bad line change with 1:49 left and take another rink long pass from Mackinnon Hawkins and score to give the Lakers the 4-3 win. Shots were 21-20 for the Lakers with Tristan Lewis getting the win in net.
Nov. 14 vs Cambridge
Sunday would turn out to be a defensive battle as the Lakers would squeak out a 1-0 win with their only goal coming on the power play in the 1st period. Nash would attempt a pass in front but a Cambridge defender would stop it with his skate before Herrfort would grab it and pull it out front to score the only marker of the game. The Lakers would pepper the Hawks goalie with 25 shots but could not solve him after their early PP marker. Cambridge would get 10 shots on Wyatt Nicholson who earned the shutout.
The 3 wins earned the players the choice of making the coaching staff skate ‘the mile’ during this week's practice! If you happen to be in attendance for the practice please know the whereabouts of the nearest defibulator , just in case!!