Mar 19, 2013 | ngaylor | 990 views
Minor Atoms advance to Alliance Playoff Finals
Written by Chris Holloway
The HP Laker Minor Atoms facing a must win situation in two weekend games gritted out a dramatic win Sunday after winning Saturday, and advanced out of the 3-team Round-Robin semi-final as the first place finishers.
On Saturday in Milverton the Lakers defeated Sun-County 3-1 in front of the home crowd. Logan Harmer finally opened the scoring from Cole Melady and Tanner Dietz after the Laker shooters had peppered the Sun County 'tender for the first half of the game. And just as the 2nd period was about to expire Sam Sedley added an insurance marker unassisted. Then early in the 3rd period Camden Daigle scored on the PP from linemates Carter Servais and Patrick Holloway, to give the Lakers a 3-0 lead. Sun-County scored a late goal but the boys were already on cruise-control getting ready for a Sunday tilt with Hamilton. Aaron Waugh was splendid in relief after crease-mate, Kyle Powers was injured in the 1st period. Harmer earned the Laker chain with his best game of the playoffs.
A bright and sunny day in Hamilton gave way to a war-zone at the Chedoke Arena in Husky-land. Both teams knew that the winner of this game was headed to the "playoff- final" series and that showed during a scoreless and physical first period. Harmer once again gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead in the 2nd stanza with a low hard shot from the slot that alluded the Hamilton netminder. The second half of the game reverted back to a defensive struggle once again where both teams goaltenders' and defensive units were outstanding keeping the game close and tight. Just as the Lakers began to punch their tickets to the final series Hamilton struck with the tying goal, their goalie out and with only 29 seconds remaining!!
Cue the dramatics as the game went to OT and the Lakers pressed for the game-winning-goal. Daigle raced down the right wing and cut to the net with the biscuit where a scrum ensued and a Hamilton player quite deliberately covered the puck with his hands in the crease..... A penalty shot was called immediately and Tanner Dietz made no mistake going bar down for the game winner and series clinching goal.
The young Lakers dominated the 4 game-3 team round robin scoring 14 goals and only giving up 6 but in the end Hamilton proved a worthy adversary before bowing out. The boys look forward to the Alliance Playoff Finals where they are the last Laker team with a chance to bring home an Alliance banner this season. The Minor Atoms would like to thank their families/fans for their positive and appreciative support thus far and extend an invitation to any/all interested spectators to cheer them on in their bid to bring home the playoff championship for the entire Lakers Organization.