Written by Jeff Aarts
Friday afternoon the Major Atoms travelled to Cambridge for the first game of the Preston International Tournament against the Wheatfield Blades. The game got off to a bit of a slow start with slow ice conditions in the warm mall. Midway thru the 1st period Blake Wideman would start things off by throwing a backhander to the net which found its mark. The Blades would tie things up late in the second before things would break open in the third as Tyler Hotson would bury his first of three on a feed from Kayden Schooley. 20 seconds later Blake Wideman would bury his second backhander from Bobby Leis and Sheldon Pryce.
The Blades would pull back within one, before Tyler Hotson would net another goal from Kaden Hoggarth and then grab his third in a solo effort. The Lakers and their opponents would then trade a couple goals back and forth as Wideman would bury a one timer on a feed from Sheldon Pryce and Connor Aarts and then finish the scoring with his third backhander and fourth goal of the game on an unassisted tally to end the game with a final score of 7-4.
Early Saturday morning the Lakers would face a big and gritty Don Mills Flyers in their second meeting this season. The teams would play a tight checking first period with neither team able to find the mesh for most of the opening frame until the Flyers would slide one in with 36 seconds left. The Lakers would quickly respond 22 seconds later as Kaden Hoggarth would bury a backhander to tie things up 1-1. (assisted by Dakota Coultes and Braeden McNaughten). Early in the second, with the Lakers on a powerplay, a cycling Sheldon Pryce and Zachary Teale would feed Tyler Hotson out front who would bury the go ahead goal. Back at even strength, however the Flyers would quickly bring thins back to Par scoring only 15 seconds later. Early in the third the Lakers would fall behind 3-2 and look to be in a bit of trouble before Blake Wideman would even things up on a feed from Kayden Schooley for his fifth goal of the tournament. The Lakers would continue to push and shortly after Zachary Teale would notch another powerplay goa; for the game winner on a pass from Sheldon Pryce and Hotson . One minute later, Hotson would round out the scoring with his 5th of the tourney. Sheldon Pryce and Connor Aarts with the helpers. Final Score Lakers 5-3.
Saturday afternoon, the Lakers would travel to the Galt Arena Gardens to take on the Lambton Jr. Sting. The Sting would strike first towards the end of the first. Already thru to the semi-finals, but trying to grab top seed the Lakers would put alot of pressure on the Lambton netminder who turned aside all the Lakers chances thru the first two thirds of the game. The Major Atoms did not allow frustration to get the best of them as they continued the pressure into the third. A minute an a half in to the period ,Bobby Leis would even things up. (assist by Sheldon Pryce). At 9:27 of the final frame Blake Wideman would strike for the 6th time in the tournament on a feed from Bobby Leis to win the game 2-1.
Finishing in second spot overall, the Lakers would travel to Preston, to face the Humber Valley Sharks. Zachary Teale would get things going for the Lakers in the first with Tyler Hotson and Kayden Schooley with the helpers. Early in the second, in what would prove to be the game winner, Bobby Leis would bury a feed from Blake Wideman and Mason Weber. Kayden Hoggarth would strike again minutes later on another pass from Wideman. The Sharks would not give up however and would apply a lot of pressure fighting to stay alive. Strong goaltending by Dylan Kints would foil their chances however turning aside numerous shots and a couple breakaways. After a early third period Sharks goal, Kints would close the door for good as the Lakers would take this one 3-1 and head to the final against the South Central Coyotes.
After a long delay in start time of their 6:15pm game, the Major Atoms would finally enter the ice at 7:30 pm before a large group of patient fans. The Lakers would storm onto the ice ready to take home the championship. In a fast back and forth first period both teams exchanged numerous chances but would end the first period scoreless. 32 seconds into the second Kaden Hoggarth would grab the lead for the Lakers as he would tuck one past the Coyotes goalie. (assisted by Braeden McNaughton and Bobby Leis) Moments later, the Lakers would find themselves in penalty trouble with two back to back penalty kills, however strong penalty killing, shot blocking and outstanding goaltending would foil the Coyotes chances and seem to fire up Huron-Perth. As the penalized Laker player returned to the box, Sheldon Pryce would step on the ice and in a heads up play, grab the Hail Mary pass from Tate Gaylor just onside to go in alone and put one just under the bar to put the Lakers ahead 2-0. 15 seconds later, the Lakers would strike again as Blake Wideman would deflect a slap-pass from Connor Aarts over to Pryce who would bury his 2nd of the game (and 8th point of the weekend). Discipline puck movement, strong defense and the stellar Laker goaltending by game MVP Hardy Westman would shut-out the Coyotes, who numerous times tried to pull the goalie in favor of the extra man in an attempt to get back into the game. A late game unassisted goal by Kaden Hoggarth, his 4th of the tournament would seal the game as the Lakers would take the championship. Final score 4-0. Congratulations Major Atoms. Let's keep things rolling heading to playoffs.