The HP Minor Midgets gained a point in their last regular season game with a 3 – 3 tie against the Hamilton Reps. With the first round playoff pairings set, the game did not carry the importance it may have. The Lakers have a first round bye for clinching first in the east division while Hamilton will begin the playoffs against Waterloo.
Hamilton opened the scoring in the first period on the power play when a rebound from a shot from the point was banged in.
Alex Peters tied the score when he snapped a high wrist shot that beat the Hamilton goalie top corner glove side.
Jared Weishar made the initial pass to Peters with
Derek Elliott earning the second assist on the goal. The score was tied 1 – 1 after the first period with Laker goalie
Evan Wigmore looking very strong for as he faced 15 shots in the opening frame. The Lakers took a 2 – 1 lead in the second period on the power play.
Ryker Killins fed a pass to his defence partner
Jacob Middleton who let a sizzler go from the point that found the back of the net past a screened Hamilton tender.
Adam Zehr got the second assist on the goal. Hamilton tied the game when the puck was banked in off of Wigmore from the back of the net. Hamilton took a 3 – 2 when they scored their second power play goal of the game. A screened shot from the point gave the home team a one goal margin entering the break. The Lakers tied the game in the third when AP
Carson Brookshaw picked up a rebound and roofed the puck over a sprawling Hamilton goalie.
Nathan Templeman and
Derek Elliott assisted on the goal. The game ended in a 3 – 3 tie with the Lakers being outshot 32 – 26.
The Lakers await their quarter final playoff opponent with the 3 out of 5 series beginning the last week of January.