Written by Scott Johnson
The Huron Perth Lakers competed in the annual Alliance Showcase this past weekend held in Waterloo. The Major Bantams came away with 2 wins, and 2 losses against four West division opponents.
Friday night, the Lakers opened up with a 4-1 win over Chatham-Kent. Logan Kellington opened the scoring midway through the first period. Ben Derrough and Noah Kuno assisted on the powerplay goal. Just 3 minutes later, Jacob Rooke went top shelf, assisted by Kyle McClinchey to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead after 1 period. Three minutes into the 2nd period, player of the game Kuno, scored his first of 2 goals on the evening. Scott Stovel and Tanner Hertel assisted on the powerplay marker. Kuno would add another to give the Lakers a 4-0 lead with 4 minutes left in the game, assisted by Hertel and Kellington. Goaltender Bailey Paquette who was strong throughout, would have his shutout broken as Chatham scored with 1:31 left in the game. The Lakers went 2 for 4 on the powerplay and killed off all 3 penalties taken.
Saturday morning the HPL squared off against the London Knights, and despite being down just 3-2 midway through the game, dropped a 7-2 decision. The Knights started quickly and built up a 3-0 lead after just 8 minutes. Kyle McClinchey would put the Lakers on the board with a goal assisted by Will Thibeault and Ben Derrough. Just over a minute into the 2nd period, Derrough would cut the lead to 3-2 with a shot that eluded the Knights goalie. Logan Kellington assisted on the goal. London would restore a 2 goal lead with 5 minutes to go in the period, then would score 3 goals in a 46 second span to end the 2nd and start the 3rd period. Ashton Stockie won player of the game honors for the Lakers.
Saturday evening, the Lakers used a pair of powerplay goals to defeat the Windsor Spitfires by a score of 2-1. Logan Kellington would deflect a Ben Derrough shot from the point to give Huron Perth the lead with 26 seconds left in the 1st period. Derrough would fire a slapshot from the point past the Spits goalie to put the Lakers up by 2 goals midway through the second period. Rhys Vollmer and Scott Stovel assisted on the game winner. Windsor scored late in the 2nd period on the powerplay to cut the lead to one after 2 periods. The Lakers would hold on during a scoreless 3rd period to take the win. HPL were 2 for 4 on the powerplay and 3 for 4 on the penalty kill. Derrough earned player of the game for the Lakers.
Sunday morning brought a penalty filled game against the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs, which the Lakers lost 3-1. The Chiefs opened the scoring at the 9 minute mark of the first period after a clearing attempt was picked off, leading to a breakaway goal. Blair Butchart made no mistake beside the net for the Lakers scoring late in the 2nd period to tie the game going into the 3rd period. Isaiah Waxman assisted on the goal. Elgin-Middlesex would score the game winner on the powerplay 2 minutes into the period, and add an insurance powerplay marker with 5 minutes left in the period to close out the scoring. The Lakers served 24 minutes in penalties, while the Chiefs received 22 minutes. Goaltender Brock Baier was named player of the game for the Lakers.
The Lakers host Brantford this Saturday in Milverton, then travel to Waterloo for a Sunday afternoon game.