MAJOR MIDGETS – TIED FOR TOPS!! WIN 3 IN A ROW - 5-2-0 ON SEASON !!
Chatham Cyclones
On Saturday Oct. 2 the team traveled to Walpole Island for a 4 pm face-off against the Chatham-Kent Cyclones. First period goal scorers were Luke Salters (Jaden Goetz, Brandon Priestap) and on the powerplay, Tyler Kettler (Garrett King, Jerry Ennett).
Cyclones got one back to end the period 2-1. The second period was scoreless with both teams - H-P (5) and C-K (2) - being penalized for minor infractions. The third period was full of penalties with H-P being assessed nine and C-K 3. It’s hard to score when you’re in the box but the Cyclones did rally for one goal with nine seconds left on the clock to tie the game at 2-2. The big story in this game was the overtime. Would Chad Smalley’s crew improve their record to 3-2-0 or plunge below the .500 mark?
Lakers began the extra time down a man but killed off what was left of the penalty. At even strength, almost a minute in, the teams faced off in the Cyclone's end. Tyler Kettler drew the puck back to Jesse DeGroote who quickly slid it across to Darren Kerr.
Kerr’s shot missed the net but ended up on Kettler’s stick – to Nick Boyer = .600!! With 43 shots on goal, Lakers should have won this game by a much bigger margin. Good job by J.P. Trudell who made a very respectable 26 saves.
Hamilton Reps
Scott Coghlin got the offense going midway through the first on a powerplay. Receiving the puck from Tyler Kettler and moving in from the blueline, #4 could’ve fired a clear shot on net but instead elected to slide a pass to David Sproat parked to the goalie’s left. Sproat received the pass and quickly fired a low one through the 5-hole. Again on the powerplay, Jerry Ennett made it 2-0 with an eye-hand demo, redirecting a chest high slapper downward into the goalie’s pads and then banging in his own rebound. David Sproat almost made the hi-lite reel with a diving deke but his airborn attempt narrowly missed the post. A Hamilton powerplay goal made it 2-1 with 3:32 left to play in the first. Goalie Drew Reinhardt came up big on a breakaway after a Reps attacker squeezed through a failed three man bodycheck.
In the second period, a rushing Shane O’Brien gave and went, accepting the clever return pass from Kettler and blasting it low and through the goalie to make it 3-1. Moments later a third powerplay goal for H-P. D-man Jesse DeGroote stumbled at the blueline but recovered quickly enough to send a pass to Jerry Ennett. Ennett’s shot had eyes, banking off an opposing player into the net. Darren Kerr had a point shot blocked which resulted in a clear Hamilton breakaway but the speedy defender chased his man the length of the ice before calmly lifting his stick to prevent a shot. With a secure 4-1 lead the H-P side let up a bit, allowing Hamilton back into the game with powerplay opportunities. At 4-2 Eli Adair restored the three goal lead. The big defender went coast to coast - chasing the puck - and then used his reach to dive and swipe the puck in with one hand on his stick. Hamilton scored once more for a 5-3 final. Once again the Lakers should have won by a bigger margin, outshooting the Reps 45 – 33.
Waterloo Wolves
Luke Salters was robbed in the first period of this game. After streaking in on net and deking to his forehand, the speedster’s shot hit the left post – then the right post – before sliding away from the net. Colt Pickett made the defensive play of the period with some heads up backchecking, lifting the stick of a Wolf just before he could fire a shot on net. Jerry Ennett had a huge second period, scoring two powerplay goals. The first was assisted by Ryan Watson. Watson played a big role in the second one as well, jumping high in the air to keep the puck in the Wolves' zone. Darren Kerr took over from Watson, sending a pretty pass to Ennett who buried it. In a 4 on 4 situation, Jesse DeGroote rushed up the middle before dishing off to Tyler Kettler.
Kettler’s shot from fairly far out handcuffed the goalie low to the stickside…..3 – 0. Garrett King will be a good slowpitch player some day. Brent Kipfer sent the puck into the rafters and when it finally dropped King batted it out of mid air into the net. Spotting Ryan Watson cruising into position, Darren Kerr made a beautiful shot/pass toward the net where Watson deftly redirected it past the goalie who was in no position to make a save. That fifth goal marked the point in the game at which victory seemed assured…the only thing left was to earn goalie drew Reinhardt a shutout. That mission was shortlived when the Wolves scored a scrambly one. In the third period the Wolves scored once and Lakers twice for a 7-2 finish. Shane O’Brien scored his first of two with a devastating snapshot to the top right corner, after receiving the puck courtesy of Jesse DeGroote and Jeff McArdle. His second one was fancy, batting the puck out of the air on the powerplay - assists to Luke Salter and Eli Adair.
After seven games, the Lakers are tied for first place with the London Jr. Knights – Knights have a game at hand.