Written by Chris Holloway
The HP Laker Major Atoms finished off Brantford at home on Saturday after
reeling off their 3rd straight victory. They had been down 2 games to none
earlier in the Playdown matchup but rallied for a 3 games to 2 quarter-final
series victory.
Game 1 started slowly for the Lakers as Brantford jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and never looked back taking game 1 by a 3-1 score. The Lakers who had received a first round bye couldn't find their game legs, while Brantford who had just swept Hamilton, looked very polished in their game 1 victory. Luke Gaylor had the lone Laker goal from Patrick Holloway and Jackson McLlwain.
Game 2 was a 7-4 victory for Brantford but the game was much closer than the score would indicate. An empty net goal and 3-99er PP goals off some questionable calls, inflated their final goal tally. Tanner Dietz had 2 goals and an assist in the loss while Holloway had a goal and an assist. Gaylor had a single marker and Cole Melady, Logan Harmer, Sam Sedley and Luke deVries had assists.
Now down 2 games to none and the series heading back home for game 3, it was gut-check time for the Lakers lads. A call from the coaches to play a tighter defensive style and to stay out of the box to avoid the potent Brantford PP, was answered with a thrilling 3-2 win on the Molson Pad. Daigle scored in the opening minute with some nice passes from McMann and Dietz but once again 2 straight Brantford PP goals had the 99ers up 2-1 entering the 3rd period. However not to be denied on this afternoon, McLlwain scored 2 unanswered 3 period goals to lift his team to victory. Robinson and Gaylor had assists and Powers was solid in the pipes. Jack Stecho also had a strong game filling in up front.
The series now shifted back to Brantford for Game 4. With renewed confidence and with growing momentum the Lakers played their best game of the series which resulted in another 3-2 win. The Lakers never trailed and held leads of 1-0 and 3-1 before Brantford scored a PP-empty net goal with just 10 seconds left to make it close. deVries and Maverick Mulder were strong on the backend while Sedley was a beast up and down the ice!! A-Waugh was superb only allowing 1 long-distance shot. Dietz, Izac Blum and Melady had goals with assists to Harmer and Camden Daigle.
This set up a dramatic game 5 showdown in Milverton in what can only be described as a defensive masterpiece resulting in a 1-0 Lakers win and subsequent series victory. Daigle scored on a wrap-around from Gaylor and Mulder and that was all the offence Kyle Powers would need as he stopped every shot to earn the well-deserved shutout victory. The Laker D-Corps of Stecho, Wade Robinson, Sedley, Mulder, deVries and McMann was key blocking many shots and helping kill off 4 Brantford PP chances!!!
The Lakers will now face Sun County in Semi-final Playdown action.
A special thanks to Nana Sedley for watching over the boys and guiding them to victory!!