The Minor Atoms participated in the Kitchener Blueline Tournament this past weekend
The Lakers started the Kitchener tournament against league foe Cambridge in a see saw battle waiting for either team to take control. The Lakers were not able to capitalize on the 3 breakaway chances they had in the game. The Lakers pressed late but could not complete the comeback as the game ended 3-1. Hoston had the lone goal on a beauty tip in from Lapointe.
Game # 2 saw the Lakers take on the Guelph Storm; the Lakers were down 2-0 heading to the wild, wild 3rd. The Lakers scored 2 goals in the first 25 seconds of the 3rd period and had the Storm turning in circles. Down 4-3 with less than 2 mins to go playing 4 on 4, a Storm player was injured on a play and allowed the bench staff to draw up a set play for the ensuing faceoff that was executed perfectly to tie the game. As 1 Lakers player described the set play "it frigging worked!!!!". Then, with 7.6 seconds left in the game, 1 last trick was pulled from the coaching bag. Guelph was a man short and the face off in the Neutral zone, and the Lakers' Goalie pulled (much to the dismay of the Lakers fans) to play 6 on 4. With 0.3 seconds left the Lakers banged in the winner! In all the excitement it was tough to hear the announcement that Sheldon Pryce was named game MVP as he notched 1G and 3A, also scoring in this game was McCann (2), Schooley and Hotson
Game # 3 saw the Lakers with an excellent chance to advance to the Semi finals with a win over Central Ontario Wolves in a very odd game that saw the Lakers hitting more iron and goal mouth scrambles then we had seen all tournament. We were not able to get a bounce that would cross the line. So with the 3-0 the Lakers needed a win in game # 4 plus some help from the hockey gods to advance to the semi finals
Game # 4 vs. the South Central Ontario Coyotes again down 2-0 heading into the 3rd period the Lakers battled back, with the eventual final being 4-4 which meant the Lakers could not advance to the semis. Crowley got the goal scoring started for the Lakers followed by a great bank shot off the goalie from Ethan Hewitt that tied it at 2-2. The Lakers took the lead as right after a breakaway save short handed by Kints the play turned the opposite way and Lapointe buried one from the blueline to go ahead 3-2. After the Coyotes tied it up, the Lakers scored their 4th once again after a breakaway save in their end but the door could not be closed as the Coyotes scored right off of the face off to leave the game to a 4-4 draw.
The new tradition of the Lakers hardest worker receiving a hard hat for their efforts saw Forward Mason Weber in Game #1, Coach Dan McNaughton received the player's vote for Game #2, Defenseman Jack Robinson for Game #3 and Dylan Kints for Game 4. All the Lakers agree that they would love to see more of the coaching staff wear the hard hat after victories.
All in all, a great weekend for the Atom Lakers!!!!