The minor peewee AAA Lakers competed in the London Early
Bird tournament this past weekend and ended up being the wildcard semi-finalist
out of 12 teams competing. The Lakers
lost their first game 3-1 to the Whitby Wildcats, the eventual finalist, won
their second game 2-1 against the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs, won their third game
in a solid team effort 3-0 versus the Kingston Frontenacs and completed the
round robin by edging out the Oakville Rangers 3-2, another semi-finalist
before bowing out to the eventual tournament champion, the London Knights.
The tournament started out Friday Sept 21 and ended with the semis and finals on Sunday Sept. 23. After a single day of rest, the Lakers returned to league play on Tuesday Sept. 25 and emerged victorious in Komoka against the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs 3-2.
In the 1st game, the only goal the Lakers were able to score came off the stick of Braeden Burdett who was set up in the slot by Joshua Zelek from the corner after receiving a pass from Eric Vander Eyk. Goalie Owen Hahn was solid in the net.
In the 2nd game, both Laker goals came from Reid Campbell, the first one set by Vander Eyk and Shawn Barnett and the 2nd one being set up solely by Vander Eyk. Goalie Zach Hall came up big to preserve the victory.
The 3rd game, probably the best solid team effort so far this year. Tyson Hall popped the first goal from Sam Dupuis. Dupuis netted the 2nd goal from Hall and Carter McLlwain. Zelek completed the scoring after receiving a pass from Zach Dow. Hahn recorded the shutout.
The 4th game, was another solid effort by the team. McLlwain opened the scoring from Dupuis. Zelek netted the 2nd goal from Kyle Stanbury and McLlwain and Burdett popped the eventual game winner after Zelek drove the puck to the net. Oakville scored with a couple of minutes to go to make the ending suspenseful. Hall was solid in net.
The Lakers found out that they made the wildcard position only after the last round robin game finished late Saturday night. The Lakers started slow in the semi final and found themselves down by too many goals too early against the London Knights. Laker goals in the last game were made by Dupuis (from Zelek and McLlwain), Dupuis unassisted, Stanbury (from Dupuis) and Burdett (from Zelek).
On Tuesday Sept. 25, in league action, the Lakers held on to beat the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs 3-2. Dupuis opened the scoring from McLlwain and Jake Weston. The Chiefs fired 2 goals back but the Lakers were able to make the most of their powerplay to score 2 goals to take the lead back. Zelek dug the puck from the goalie and popped one in after a McLlwain point shot after being set up from Dupuis. The game winner came on a deflection off of Zelek after McLlwain’s point shot was first deflected by Dupuis.
The Lakers return to play again this Friday against the Knights at the Labatts Centre (oops, Budweiser centre) and then a home game against the Chatham Cyclones on Saturday and an away game against the Brantford 99ers on Sunday. Go Lakers!