Feb 28, 2013 | ngaylor | 1078 views
Lakers lose heartbreaker in series finale
Written by Chris Holloway
The HP Laker Minor Atoms stretched their quarter-final Playdown series to 5 games before finally succumbing to League rival Waterloo on Sunday afternoon. In game 3 of the series Friday evening in Waterloo, Camden Daigle out-raced 2 Waterloo defenders to put the Lakers up 1-0 just 2 minutes into the game. Unfortunately there was little else to cheer about in the 3-1 loss other than a solid goaltending outing by Kyle Powers. Jackson McLlwain drew an assist on Daigle's goal, while Carter Servais earned the Laker chain with a strong effort during the game.
Saturday afternoon in Milverton the Lakers responded with their best game of the series and a 3-2 win. Luke Gaylor converted a cross-crease pass from Daigle to put the Lakers up 1-0 halfway through the first, however the Wolves quickly tied the game before the first was over. Carter Servais restored the Laker lead early in the 2nd when he scored on the PP from Cole Melady. From there the Laker penalty killers took over as they killed multiple penalties in the second half of the game. However as time expired and the Laker penalty killers exhausted, the Wolves tied the game with less than 2 minutes to go on the PP. This set up a dramatic finish when Patrick Holloway buried a Sam Sedley feed with just 1:15 to go in the game. Aaron Waugh stopped all shooters in the final minute as Waterloo pressed with their goalie pulled. Logan Harmer earned the Laker chain with strong penalty killing and feisty play.
With the series knotted at 2 games apiece, the 5th and deciding game shifted back to Waterloo on Sunday. The Lakers came out flat and quickly found themselves down 3-0. The excitement of Saturdays emotional win had drained the young Lakers and they lost 4-1. Sedley scored from Tanner Dietz and Luke de Vries on the PP but that was all the boys could muster. Brady Ballantyne earned the chain with determined board play and a physical presence.
Laker Coaches/Parents are extremely proud of their players/sons as they fought doggedly and narrowly missed taking this series. Waterloo had finished 15 points ahead of the Lakers and only lost 4 regular season games all year but that didnt matter as the boys took 2 out of 5 from Waterloo and played with vigor and determination throughout the series. Post season play now shifts to the "Playoff-round" where the young Lakers will face Sun-County and Hamilton in a 3-team round-robin.