Major Atom Lakers clinch Kitchener series with overtime drama, News, Major Atom, 2011-12 (Huron Perth Lakers)

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Mar 05, 2012 | jzelek | 2125 views
Major Atom Lakers clinch Kitchener series with overtime drama
The Major Atom Lakers defeated the Kitchener Rangers 4-3 in overtime on Saturday March 3, 2012 in Kitchener to win the preliminary playoff series 3 games to 1.  The Lakers started the series on a flat note in Goderich on Sunday Feb.19th, losing 5-1 but bounced back with 3 consecutive wins.  On Saturday Feb. 25, the Lakers scored 2 goals in the last minute to edge out the Rangers 5-4.  In  Brussels on Sunday Feb. 26, the Lakers outplayed  the Rangers and beat them with a flattering 4-2 score.   The Lakers advance to the semi finals against the winner of the series featuring the Cambridge Hawks and the Brantford 99ers.

On March 3rd, in overtime & on the powerplay, Joshua Zelek snuck behind the defense, took a bang-bang pass from Kyle Stanbury who was behind the net and buried a rifle shot 5-hole that was out of the net as quick as it went in (Braeden Burdett also assisted).  The players on the ice celebrated while the bench waited for the ref's goal signal, which was a lot slower than the play that had just unfolded, before joining their teammates on the ice to celebrate the series victory. This was the only time the Lakers led, having to come back from 1 goal deficits 3 times during the game.  The Lakers 1st goal was scored by Reid Campbell, tapping in a nice pass across the crease from  Stanbury.  The 2nd goal was scored by Zelek who picked up the puck from Carter McLlwain and fired a goal  that eluded the screened goalie.  Stanbury tied the game at 3s while short-handed, sending it into overtime by stealing the puck from the Ranger defense and guiding it past the sprawling Ranger goalie.  Goalie Bobby McLachlan was outstanding in turning aside 29 shots. 


The Lakers floated through the series opener on Feb. 19th and rightfully lost to the Rangers 5-1.  The only Laker goal was scored by Tanner Reid who shot a knuckler  from the top of the circle which fooled the Ranger goalie.


The 2nd game of the series on Feb. 25 looked a lot like the Lakers would be down 2-0 in the series.  With their goalie pulled, and down 4-3 with a little more than a minute to go, Zelek took a pass from Shawn Barnett in his own zone and went end to end to tie the game at 4s.  20 seconds later, Stanbury took a pass from Campbell at the opposition blue line, walked in and fired a goal past the bewildered  Ranger goalie for the game winner.  The roles reversed with the Rangers pulling their goalie but the strong defensive play of the Lakers did not let the Rangers get past the Laker blue line.  McLlwain opened the scoring by converting a pass from Zelek into a seeing eye wrist shot from the blue line while on the power play.  McLlwain scored the 2nd goal as well, blasting a slapshot  from the blue line that overwhelmed the Ranger goalie.  Zelek took a pass from McLlwain and fired the 3rd goal past the Ranger goalie while spinning around.


The Lakers controlled the 3rd game of the series on Feb. 26 but the Ranger goalie kept the score close.  Laker goalie Owen Hahn had less shots but had to come up big on numerous occasions to keep the Lakers ahead.  The Rangers opened the scoring in the 1st minute after which the Lakers scored 4 consecutive goals.  Reid tied the game on a  shot that had the goalie guessing incorrectly.  Stanbury from Burdett and McLlwain gave the Lakers their 1st lead. McLlwain wired a wrist shot top corner past the Ranger goalie unassisted and Zelek banged a Stanbury rebound after Burdett's initial shot to complete the Laker scoring. The Rangers were able to net 1 more but that was as close as they got.


 The Lakers await either the Cambridge Hawks or the Brantford 99ers and should be starting their semi-final series next weekend.  Go Lakers!