This past weekend, the Minor Midgets succumbed to the Kitchener Jr. Rangers and the Lambton Jr. Sting, losing by scores of 4-1 and 11-5 respectively.
Kitchener Jr. Rangers
On Saturday in Stratford, the Minor Midgets faced the Jr. Rangers with a short bench. Three players missed the action due to sickness and/or injuries. Another three players played despite flu-like symptoms. The result was predictable as the Lakers were not able to mount much energy, being out shot 28–18 and losing a key East Division match against a team ahead of them in the standings.
Goalie
Joe Metzger kept his team in the game until late in the 2nd when the Rangers went up 3-1. The Rangers capitalized on two power plays goals as the Lakers were assessed eight minor penalties. Full marks to the Jr. Rangers. They have clearly improved from last season and are a hard working team to play against.
Jayden Landry scored the lone goal on the power play with an assist to
Iain Donnelly.
Lambton Jr. Sting
The Lakers travelled through some bad weather on Sunday for a second league game with the Lambton Jr. Sting. Earlier, in the year, the Lakers and Sting tied 2-2.
This game would be different as the host Sting showed the Lakers they are indeed a top West Division team.
Even though the Laker line-up was depleted with sickness and injury, the Lakers started strong and opened the scoring on a power play tally from Michael Siddall (assist to Donnelly).
Some sloppy defensive zone play quickly resulted in three consecutive Sting goals.
Early in the 2nd period, Devin Williams picked up the puck in the neutral zone and fired home the 2nd Laker goal off his own rebound (Nick Castell assisting).
For much of the 2nd period, the game was close. A melee broke out with ten minutes gone in the 2nd. While no fighting penalties were called, a couple players from each team could easily have been ejected. This seemed to spark the Sting as they quickly potted three successive goals and ended the 2nd with a 6-2 lead.
The third period was not a defensive masterpiece. Both teams decided to abandon defensive systems and the poor goalies were left with little support. In total, eight goals were scored. The Sting adding to their total with five and the Lakers with three. Laker goals scorers were Riley McCabe, Jared Zufelt and Castell. Braydon Blight, Siddall, Mackinley O'Keefe and Brett Lockhart picked up single assists.
The Lakers will look to get healthy this week as they prepare for the Gold Puck tourney in Waterloo.
submitted by Mich Landry