Oct 11, 2011 | lbuchanan | 880 views
Lakers take Second Place at Hamilton Tim Horton International Tourney
With such remarkable weather for a Thanksgiving weekend, the Lakers decided to spend most of it indoors, but where else....at the arena in Hamilton.
The Minor Peewee Lakers had an impressive showing leaving the tournament with a 3-2-1 record.
The Minor Peewee Lakers played 2 games on Saturday, October 8, 2011. In the first game of the day the Lakers tied the Cambridge Hawks, 2-2. After a scoreless first period, the Hawks scored the first goal of the day early in the second after the Lakers found themselves in some penalty trouble. Colton Atkins assisted the first goal, scored by Owen Gilhula on a power play. Laker, Cameron Hanson took the lead for the Lakers minutes later, scoring also in the second period. Again with a man in the box, the Hawks capitalized on their situation scoring on a power play to tie the game. The game would remain tied 2-2.
Later in the day, the Lakers battled for the puck against the Kanata Blazers. Kaleb Pearson would score first in the game, assisted by Trent Buchanan late in the first period, however the Blazers matched the goal less than a minute later. The Blazers would score again to take the lead before Gilhula would find the back of the twine, assisted by Brady Hinz and Atkins on a power play. The game remained tied with 2 apiece, however with only 2:55 on the clock, the Blazers took the lead, where the game remained 3-2 Blazers.
On Thanksgiving Sunday, the Lakers would take the ice again, now facing the tournament hosts, the Hamilton Reps. The Reps had a convincing 2-0 lead over the Lakers. With the game half over the Lakers managed to get on the score sheet, with a goal by Gilhula, assisted by Hanson. Two minutes later, Gilhula scores again, assisted by Eric Rolph. To take the lead, Laker Cameron Amos scores, assisted by Atkins and Gilhula. What an incredible come back in less than 10 minutes of play! The Reps would tie the game at 3 a piece with only seconds on the clock at the end of the second. The Lakers proved they wanted the win more when Atkins found the back of the net, assisted by Gilhula. Despite the play going end to end, the game remained at 4-3 Lakers.
With time to kill on a beautiful holiday Sunday, the Minor Peewee Lakers managed to reserve their energy to take a commanding win over the Syracuse Nationals. The Nations were only able to score one goal late in the second period. Scoring for the Lakers were: Buchanan, Gilhula (2), Hinz (2), and Pearson. Assists were awarded to: Gilhula (2), Hinz, Brooke Schroeder, Pearson, Evan Dowd (2), Hanson and Buchanan. The Lakers annihilated the Nationals 6-1.
The Lakers had to wait until late in the day to see the results of their competitors before receiving confirmation that they earned a spot in the semi finals early Monday morning. The Lakers would compete against the Lambton Jr Sting for a spot in the final game. The Lakers took a commanding lead with an unassisted goal by Hinz. Bayden Parent would also find the back of the twine, assisted by Dowd, making it a 2-0 game. The Sting fought hard to get back in the game, scoring 2 unanswered goals to tie the game. After 2 periods of over time, the winner was decided in a shootout. The Sting would only be able to score one out of five opportunities. With the soft hands and skill of Amos, Gilhula and Pearson, the Lakers would win the game to secure the spot in the championship game.
In the finals, the Lakers would battle the Ottawa Valley Silver Seven....a competitor the Minor Peewee Lakers had not seen before. Ottawa Valley was able to take an impressive 3-0 lead over the Lakers by the end of the second period. However the Lakers were not going down without a fight. Early in the third period Atkins scored, assisted by Gilhula and Hinz. The rest of the period the puck would go end to end, however the Lakers could not capitalize on their opportunities until 27 seconds left in the game, when Defenceman Malcolm McLeod would find the back of the net, assisted by Max Hall and Dowd. With the goalie pulled and the clock ticking, the Lakers were not able to tie the game. Ottawa Valley secured the win 3-2 over the Lakers.
The Lakers should be very proud of their hard work, and determination over the course of the weekend.
Goaltenders, Riley Deline and Nathan Young both fought hard over a long 3 days of hockey, earning them both the "WIN" for the weekend!
Way to go Lakers! The Minor Peewee Lakers have 2 additional tournaments mid-November and will be working hard to fine-tune their strategies until then.