SHOWCASE SPLIT!!! The Huron-Perth Lakers Major Midgets began their season in Kitchener on September 24th, playing four league games over three days as part of the Alliance Showcase.
Cambridge Hawks
On Friday night the puck dropped at 6:30 vs the Cambridge Hawks. In the first period Jeff McCardle’s alert pass found Nick Boyer half a rink away. Boyer relayed the puck to Tyler Kettler who rushed in to bury a hard wristshot… 1–0. Midway into the second period, Cambridge evened the score at one goal apiece. Brent Kipfer showed some speed by charging in and splitting the defense for a good scoring opportunity. Jerry Ennett came up with the defensive play of the period on a penalty kill. Tenacious forechecking created a scoring opportunity for the speedy winger, but he was hooked to the ice by a flatfooted defender negating the Hawks’ powerplay in the process. Lakers skaters were a little sloppy at the beginning of the second period but goaler J.P. Trudell stood his ground. Ryan Watson scored a beauty second goal by bodying his man off the puck, roaring in and surprising the goalie with a backhand deke and chipshot from close in. It was an impressive outing for the newly formed team, but despite three periods of hard work, the Hawks prevailed in the end by a score of 3-2.
Hamilton Reps
The players - and some of the parents - were in bed early Friday night to rest up for a 9:00 am start on Saturday. Thirteen minutes in, Eli Adair fired a hard pointshot through traffic where Garrett King was parked looking for a rebound. King found the puck and tried to bury it. Jerry Ennett took a turn and it was 1–0. With three-and-change left in the period, Jesse DeGroote kept the puck in along the boards. Moving to a position to the side of the net, DeGroote snapped a pass to Jaden Goetz whose shot rebounded to Luke Salter… 2–0 Lakers.The second period was scoreless even though H-P penalty killers had two breakaways while killing two penalties. Shortly after returning to even strength, Eli Adair rang one off the post. Midway through the third the Lakers increased the pressure but several good scoring chances went unrewarded. With 3:15 left to play, Darren Kerr’s accurate pass up the middle sent Jerry Ennett streaking down the left side for a short-side shot that ruffled the sheets in the top bunk… 3– 0. Keeper Drew Reinhardt played solid goal all morning but he should’ve played a bit faster. Fighting for the team’s first shutout, all hopes were dashed with :08 on the clock. Final score… 3–1 Lakers.
Chatham-Kent Cyclones
Saturday’s second game began at 4:30 in the afternoon. At 12:10 of the first, Nick Boyer sent a pass across the blueline to Shane O’Brien. #20 made no mistake, opening the scoring with a shot from the slot. Midway through the second the Lakers came up short on two breakaways. Moments later, with a 5 on 4 advantage it was #4 to #5, Scott Coghlin’s rebound to David Sproat who fired one low to the shortside. Less than a minute later, Coghlin, McCardle, and Boyer were playing tic-tac-toe with Boyer finally sending one across the line. In the third period, only penalty data was recorded on the gamesheet. Final score… 3–0 Lakers.
London Jr Knights
Although Sunday’s game vs the Knights resulted in a loss, it was a great effort and a good indicator of how strong a team the Lakers have. In the first period, London took advantage of a failed clearing pass to go ahead 1–0. During a four minute advantage in the penalty filled second period, Ryan Watson, Jerry Ennett, and Tyler Kettler held a clinic in the Knights' end and did everything but score. Lakers penalty killers also contributed to a scoreless period when H-P was down a man.The third period featured more Lakers offense but also two significant defensive plays. Tyler McArdle executed, with impunity, a textbook diving pokecheck on a Knight who was streaking in on net. Jesse DeGroote took a hard slapper off the foot and then managed to smother the puck in front of the goal. Late in the third period, the Lakers powerplay was robbed of a final 7 second opportunity to tie the game because of a questionable call by an official. With a Laker d-man charging to touch the puck, a London icing was waved off although the puck had clearly crossed the end line. 1–0 London.