The Minor Atoms played London, Chatham and Hamilton this past weekend
The Minor Atoms had a busy weekend with 3 games in 3 days against top ranked teams from London and Chatham. Beginning Friday night the Lakers travelled to London in a game that saw many Spring hockey rivals meet up and the Lakers implementing a brand new fore check system that frustrated the LJK to the point of 10 minor penalties after the Knights scored in the 1st minute of the game. Crowley knotted the score at 1-1 picking up the rebound after Pryce drove the net. Dakota Coultes really took to the new system and provided the 2nd Lakers goal on a great fore check and a beauty shot just inside the far post after a nice feed from Weber. As the Lakers continued to frustrate LJK allowing Hotson to score back to back goals in a :21 sec span both set up by McCann and Gaylor. This set up the fantastic final 5 minutes as the Lakers continued to press but saw the LJK catch a bounce and put a puck into the empty net for a 6-4 final. LJK strengthened their win loss record to 12-1-2
On Saturday, the coaching staff was just begging for the energy level anywhere close to the night before and they were not disappointed as the new fore check system was executed perfectly again by Weber, Leis and Coultes. McCann got us rolling once again 3 mins into the game from a great set up from Pryce. McCann returned the favour later in the 1st after a heads up outlet pass from Gaylor, McCann sent Pryce in for a slap shot that tore the Chatham goalie's glove off to make it 2 -1. The WLC line continued to press resulting in an entire shift spent in Chatham's end resulting in a great wrap around goal by Leis to tie the game at 3-3. A late PP goal gave Chatham the victory and extended their record to 13-2-3.
With the effort displayed on Fri/Sat the team decided that a "practice" would do the trick unfortunately Hamilton showed up to play and took it to the Lakers, lesson learned? We will see this weekend.