Despite the fact that the Major Midgets are only a respectable 3-2-0 in their past five games, the team has been playing great which bodes well for the upcoming playoffs. With one game left they are tied with Windsor for third place in the eight team league. One more win and some favourable math could see the team finish the season tied for second place.
LONDON - Game #1
Back to back games against first place London resulted in very respectable one goal deficits. In the first game Jerry Ennett and Colt Pickett were the goal scorers with assists going to Garrett King, Nick Boyer, Jeff McArdle and Scott Coghlin. Close game but London took two points with a final score of 3-2.
LONDON - Game #2
In the second game, Shane O'Brien was the goal scorer. On his first shift, after having his initial attempt stopped, O’Brien took a second pass from David Sproat and buried it. An unlucky bounce gave the Knights a two on one which they converted to even the score 1-1. By all accounts, J.P. Trudell was amazing between the pipes but a second goal – high blocker side – got past him and sealed the deal for the Jr. Knights. Final score 2-1.
CHATHAM - Game #1
After two stellar performances vs London, the team expected a win against the Chatham Maroons. Garrett King made it 1-0 off a face-off, snapping Tyler Kettler’s draw over the goalie’s shoulder.
Chatham took a 3-1 lead in the second period before Nick Boyer responded; once with a wobbly one timer and then with a beauty which evened the score at three apiece. After taking a Kettler pass and crossing the blueline, Boyer slowed to avoid a charging Maroons' defender, then accelerated toward the net to snap a bullet off the far post.
A five goal second period flurry gave Chatham a 6-3 lead which became 7-3 early in the third. The Kettler line wasn’t done though and they attempted to mount another comeback. Boyer began by finishing his hat trick with help from d-men Scott Coghlin and Jeff McArdle. With a Darren Kerr pass on his stick, Garrett King scored his second of the game by battling through the Chatham defense and stretching forward to unleash an accurate shot. D-man Kerr was an offensive threat the whole game, skillfully moving the puck out of his own end and making nice passes. A huge outing for Kettler-2 asst, Boyer-hat trick, King-2 goals, and d-man Darren Kerr-3asst. Five goals were all the team could muster unfortunately. Final score 7-5.
CHATHAM - Game #2
Chad Smalley’s boys got things done properly in this game. Garrett King continued his scoring streak with another two - one of them short-handed. Tyler Kettler notched two plus a helper. Scott Coghlin scored once and added an assist. Final score 5-3.
KITCHENER - Shootout!!
Lakers' shooters ran into a very hot Kitchener goalie last Sunday in Goderich. Seconds in Shane O’Brien intercepted a clearing pass and quickly relayed the puck to Brandon Priestap who was denied on the backhand deke. Travis Bowman intercepted a clearing pass, raced in and nailed the post with a hard shot. On a powerplay Nick Boyer spotted Brent Kipfer sneaking in from the blueline and set him up for a good shot on net. No luck. At even strength Luke Salter had a great opportunity from close in but was repelled. Finally, on a powerplay, Shane O’Brien found the back of the net with a long, harmless looking shot (Kerr, Priestap)...1-0. Kitchener responded two minutes later with one of their own to end the first period 1-1.
On a second period powerplay, the Rangers made good on another scoring chance with a knuckler which found the top corner. During a goalmouth scramble, Shane O’Brien made it 2-2 by batting in a loose puck. With the Rangers' goalie sprawled on his back, Travis Bowman tried to get the puck on his forehand to flip it over and in but came up short. Colt Pickett stepped in to finish the job and restore the Lakers' lead.
Fourteen seconds into the third the Rangers tied it at three apiece. The rest of the period was a battle with both teams trying to go ahead. Brandon Priestap was sent in all alone and tried to deke. On a 5 on 3 penalty kill, Shane O’Brien somehow broke loose and was inches short of a clear breakaway. Goalie Drew Reinhardt made his biggest save on a surprise one timer from just in front.
After twenty minutes the game went to a 5 minute overtime period. Shane O’Brien came close to ending it with his hard shot from the hash marks. In the shootout which followed O’Brien was the first shooter. He was stopped by the hot Kitchener goalie as was second shooter Scott Coghlin. Brandon Priestap shot third and once again proved the maxim that you need speed on a penalty shot. #9's speed and quick stickhandling baffled the Rangers goalie who was way out of position when the puck was deposited. With the score 1-1 after three shooters, David Sproat walked in and calmly deked to the backhand. Reinhardt stared down the last shooter - three saves out of four - and game over. Final score 4-3.