Written by Ron Pryce
Game 1 saw the Lakers come out flying dominating the 1st period . Tyler Hotson scored with 2:43 left in the 1st to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead assisted by Zac McCann and Kayden Schooley. Unfortunately the Rangers would then take over and score the next 4 goals taking a 4-1 lead by the end of the 2nd period. Then at the start of the 3rd Connor Aarts gave the team some hope scoring unassisted just 0:09 seconds into the period making the game 4-2. The Lakers just couldn’t get a bounce hitting the post and crossbar the Rangers would add an empty netter and take game 1 5-2. Tate Gaylor and Coleson Fischer had solid games on the backend!
Game 2 would be a better outcome for the Lakers and right from the start at 8:30 of the 1st period Fischer would get his shot through to the front of the net to Sheldon Pryce who buried the goal to give the Lakers an early 1-0 lead . Then at 11:01 of the 2nd Kaden Hoggarth scored assisted by Jack Robinson to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead. The Lakers would soon find themselves in some penalty trouble giving the Rangers a sniff at a comeback making the game 2-1. At 5:46 of the 2nd Hotson scored from McCann to regain the 2 goal lead. With 2:03 left in the 2nd Hotson would score again from Schooley and the Lakers would take a 4-2 lead into the 3rd. McCann would score at 13:26 of the 3rd from Hotson to make the game 5-2 but the Rangers would come right back with another powerplay goal to get within 2 and putting the pressure on. Great work on the back check and strong defence work would keep the Rangers at 3 goals and McCann would add 1 more for the Lakers from Hotson and Schooley. The Lakers would take the win and tie the series at 1 game each.
Game 3 would see the Lakers take a 2 games to 1 lead in the series controlling the play for most of this match. In the 1st period on the power play Hotson would score from McCann and Pryce to take a 1-0 lead. Before the end of the 1st, the Rangers would tie the game at 1. In the 2nd period Hoggarth would score unassisted to put the Lakers up 2-1. Near the end of the 2nd McCann would score assisted by Hotson and Jack Robinson would give the boys a 3 -1 lead. The 3rd would see more great defence work by Fischer, Aarts, Gaylor, Coultes , Robinson, and Ferguson, and strong checking on the boards by Roes, Boreham, Weber and Wideman . Solid goaltending by Hardy Westman to win 3-1.
Game 4 will be in Kitchener next Friday Night at the Aud.