Sep 13, 2011 | mlandry | 3613 views
Major PeeWees 3-0 in Exhibition Play
The '99 Laker PeeWees completed pre-season exhibition play with a perfect 3-0 record.
August 28 vs Guelph
Guelph traveled to Listowel on August 28 to start exhibition play. With only a handful of practices under their belt, the PeeWees started slow and their play was more than a little rusty.
Guelph opened the scoring and finished the 1st period up 2-0. The 2nd period saw the Lakers come to life and pot four goals and end the period up 4-2. In the 3rd, the Lakers added three more and allowed one final Guelph tally. Final score was 7-3. Scoring was spread around with seven different Lakers scoring (Rhys Vollmer, Kade Landry, Tanner Johnson, Ben Derrough, Tanner Hertel, Mitchel Deelstra and Noah Kuno). Assists went to Wil Thibeault (4), Landry, Deelstra, Johnson, Carter Collinson (2), Blair Butchart, Evan Moorehead and Hertel. Brock Baier and Baily Paquette shared goaltending and were both solid.
September 9 vs Buffalo Regals
The Buffalo Regals traveled north this past Saturday for a doubleheader. The 1st game was an early morning game at Allman arena in Stratford. With the benefit of some good practices and three power skating sessions with Laker powerskating instructor Kathy McIlwain, the Lakers were ready for the Regals and came out very strong. The Regals were sluggish from the long drive and the Lakers capitalized early and after two periods were up 6-1. The 3rd period was more even and the teams traded good chances. Paquette made some key saves and the final ended 10-3.
Laker fans got a glimpse of some new line combinations and were not disappointed. Ashton Stockie (1 goal, 3 assists), Thibeault (2 goals, 1 assist) and Johnson (1 assist) were dangerous all game. The line of Deelstra (1 goal, 2 assists), Butchart (1 goal, 2 assists) and Hertel (1 goal and 2 assists) were especially effective with the cycle. Jacob Rooke (1 assist), Kuno (1 goal) and Volmer (1 goal and 2 assists) kept the Regal defence backing up all game with their attacking speed.
The defence pairs of Derrough (1 assist) and Collinson, Landry (2 goals) and Mitchell Casey (2 assists), Brett Denny (1 assist) and Moorehead were strong defensively and keyed a strong Laker transition game.
The teams moved north to Listowel for the 2nd game of the doubleheader. Buffalo was better prepared and the result was a competitive match from start to finish. Baier was called on early to make tough saves and the 1st period ended scoreless. The Lakers opened the scoring in the 2nd, scoring 2 goals on the same shift. First, Thibeault scored on a pass from Collinson and then Johnson caught the Regal defense sleeping and scored on a breakaway pass from Landry.
The 3rd period saw the Lakers get into penalty trouble. The PK unit was in mid season form and killed four straight penalties. Thibeault scored two third period goals to make the final score 4-0. Stockie added one assist and Baier picked up his first shutout of the season.
Overall, the coaching staff was pleased with the effort. The Lakers have two practices this week as they prepare for their home opener on Sunday Sept 18 vs division rival Brantford.