Nov 10, 2011 | jzelek | 873 views
Major Atom Lakers go 2-2 during busy 4 game week
The Major Atom Lakers extended their losing streak to 6 games during a busy 4 game week but broke that streak by taking 2 out of 3 weekend games. The Lakers lost to the Cambridge Hawks in Cambridge 2-1 on Tuesday Nov. 1, 2011 and then beat the Hawks in Stratford on Friday Nov. 4, 2011 4-3. On Saturday Nov. 5, 2011, the Lakers came out flat and lost 5-1 to the Kitchener Rangers in Kitchener before returning home on Sunday Nov. 6, 2011 and beating up on the Brantford 99ers 8-3 in Stratford.
The 2 games against the Hawks were ugly as Cambridge style of tightly checking their opponents into submission dictated the style of play. In Cambridge, the only goal the Lakers could manage was by Zach Dow (assisted by Tanner Reid and Ethan Roche). A strong game by Bobby McLachlan kept the Lakers within reach but they were stopped on numerous occasssions by a strong Hawks goalie.
In the 2nd game against the Hawks, 2 minutes into the game the Lakers scored early with Kyle Stanbury, one timing the pass from Joshua Zelek and Reid Campbell picking up the other assist. The Hawks were able to strike for 2 quick goals, 20 seconds apart to lead after 1, 2-1. In the 2nd, the Hawks kept play in the Laker zone and McLachlan kept the Lakers in the game until the Lakers scored their own 2 quick goals (in 45 seconds), both unassisted efforts, the 1st by Sam Dupuis and the 2nd by Ethan Roche. The 2nd period ended with the Lakers up 3-2. In the 3rd period, Braeden Burdett brought the puck to the net, sliding it under the Hawk goalie to open up a 4-2 lead (assisted by Dupuis). The Hawks narrowed it to 4-3 but the Lakers held on, especially during a gut clenching last 20 seconds that had the spectators standing in anticipation. This game broke the Lakers losing streak and was the 1st time in 2 years that this group of boys had beat this Hawks team.
The Kitchener game is not even worth writing about. The the Lakers did not show up and this game was probably one of their worst efforts all season. The only goal the team managed was by Sam Dupuis (assisted by Shawn Barnett and Matthew Schwindt). The Lakers could only muster up a few scoring opportunities. From the high of Friday, this was definitely a low as this was the 1st time in 2 years that this group had lost to this Ranger group.
The Lakers brought their scoring arsenal to the Brantford game, erupting for 8 goals in a 8-3 victory. This was the 1st time in about 3 weeks that the Lakers passed the puck and played as a team and this resulted in their best showing in a long time. Goal scorers included Stanbury (from Tyson Hall), Campbell (from Stanbury, Hall), Maxim Mulder (from Burdett), Carter McLlwain (from Dupuis), Dow (from Reid, Roche), Campbell (from Stanbury), Dupuis unassisted and Hall (from Campbell). Owen Hahn had a strong game in goal.
The Lakers are off to the Toronto Shanahan tournament this weekend and hope to build from the good in the recent games. Go Lakers!