Written by Chris Holloway
The HP Lakers Major Atoms had a great result at the London Earlybird Tournament last weekend, reaching the Semi-Finals.The tournament began Friday afternoon where some weary Laker legs quickly found themselves down 2-0 to the Barrie Jr. Colts. Luke Gaylor and Patrick Holloway worked the give and go perfectly as Holloway scored on the PP. Wade Robinson also drew an assist on the play keeping the biscuit in at the blueline. But Barrie went up 3-1 and the Lakers faced an uphill climb especially since the Barrie keeper was very strong and keeping his team in the lead. However with less than 5 minutes to play Gaylor scored from Holloway and Harmer and then Gayles scored again with just under 2 minutes to go on the PP to salvage a 3-3 tie.
Brady Ballantyne also drew an assist on the tying goal. Aaron Waugh was solid early when Barrie was up 2-0 and gave his team a chance to mount the comeback.
Game 2 was all Lakers in an 8-0 thumping of the Markham Majors. Jackson McLlwain led the charge with a pair of goals and an assist. Maverick Mulder, Luke de Vries, Logan Harmer, Camden Daigle, Ballantyne and Holloway rounded out the scoring. Jack Stecho and Gaylor had a pair of assists while single helpers went to Cole Melady and Tanner Dietz. Kyle Powers was perfect in the pipes when he was tested.
Saturday Morning the Lakers faced a tough Whitby squad and ended up losing 5-2 although the game was much closer than the score would indicate. After Whitby opened the scoring on the first shift of the game the Lakers settled in and tied the game as Gayles scored from Holloway and Devo. Whitby pressed early in the 2nd but Waugh stood tall in the pipes making several great stops before Daigle scored shorthanded from McLlwain giving the Lakers a 2-1 lead heading to the 3rd. However in the last half of the 3rd Whitby turned the tide and scored 4 straight goals the result of a tired Lakers team having had to kill off too many penalties earlier in the game.
Their 1-1-1 record heading into the final pool game had the Lakers in a position needing a convincing win to advance to the semis and they did not disappoint with a 6-1 drubbing over the Windsor Jr. Spitfires. Daigle had a pair of PP goals, and Izac Blum had a goal and an assist. Ballantyne, deVries, and Harmer also scored. Holloway and Mulder had 2 assists each while Dietzy, McLlwain and Gaylor had single helpers. Sam Sedley and Wade Robinson were strong on special teams lugging the puck for their teammates.
The 2-1-1 record was good enough for 2nd in Pool A and a berth in the semis vs. undefeated Pool B winner, Nickel City. The game was tight throughout and in the end a couple of PP goals were the difference in the game as Sudbury prevailed 3-2. Sudbury would score first and carry a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period. However the Lakers began to take the edge in play with some strong down-low play. First Harmer scored after Blummer and Melady did some work behind the net and then Dietzy scored the go-ahead goal from Holloway and Daigle in a similar down-low play on the PP. However Nickel City responded with 2 late PP goals off of curious calls to send the Lakers to defeat.
In all a great first tournament result that featured some excellent goaltending, a balanced scoring attack and some fine defensive work. Next up the LJKs on Saturday at Nichols Arena.