Written by: Scott Johnson
Shorthanded Southern Road Trip
On the weekend of November 9th, the Huron Perth Bantams battled hard with a short roster and split a pair of road games. On Saturday, playing with just 6 forwards, and 4 defenseman due to a rash of injuries, the Lakers dropped a 1-0 decision to the West division leading Sun County Panthers. Goaltender Brock Baier was terrific in goal, turning aside 29 shots throughout the game. The Lakers registered 15 shots, and were 0 for 1 on the power play.
Sunday, the Lakers blanked the Windsor Spitfires 2-0. Kade Landry opened the scoring with a blast from the point just under 2 minutes into the game. Blair Butchart and Jacob Rooke assisted on the goal. After a scoreless second period, Kyle McClinchey added an insurance goal, banging in a rebound in the opening minute of the 3rd period. Rooke and Will Thibeault registered assists on the goal. Bailey Paquette recorded the shutout for the Lakers who were outshot 28-17 in the penalty free game. Curtis Jackson played well throughout the weekend in his Laker debut.
Weekend at Home
The following weekend, the Bantams battled hard taking on both division leaders in a pair of home games. Saturday, in Milverton, the Lakers dominated the Sun County Panthers in a 5-0 victory. Call-up Brady Hinz opened the scoring for the Lakers with a nice shot to the top corner midway through the first period. Fellow call-up Owen Gilhula assisted on the goal. Jacob Rooke scored unassisted in the second period to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd period. Kyle McClinchey was left all alone out front and made no mistake to put Huron Perth up by 3 early in the third. Rooke assisted on the goal. Rhys Vollmer went 5-hole at the 9 minute mark for the fourth goal of the game. Blair Butchart earned an assist on that marker. Scott Stovel would close out the scoring, assisted by Vollmer with 3 minutes left. Brock Baier earned the shutout for the Lakers.
Sunday in Stratford, the Lakers put forth a fantastic effort, and had 3 goals called back in a 5-3 loss to Hamilton. After surrendering the game’s first goal at the 8 minute mark, Tanner Hertel scored a wrap-around goal, assisted by Carter Collinson, just a minute later. Hamilton would score twice in the second period to take a 3-1 lead into the third period. Scott Stovel would pull the Lakers to within one midway through the 3rd with a goal assisted by Hertel on the powerplay. Blair Butchart would tie the game up with 4 minutes left, assisted by Ben Derrough before the Huskies added 2 late goals to seal the win. The Lakers surrendered 2 powerplay goals, while going 1 for 5 with the man advantage. Call-ups Hinz, Gilhula, Garrett Nelson, and Eric Gibb were solid throughout both games.
Back on the Road
The following Sunday afternoon, the Bantams travelled to Sarnia to defeat the Lambton Sting 4-1 in their lone game of the weekend. Ben Derrough opened the scoring for the Lakers with 2 minutes left in the 1st period. Blair Butchart and Isaiah Waxman earned assists on the goal. Ashton Stockie would score the eventual game winner, assisted by Waxman and goaltender Brock Baier, 3 minutes into the second period. Derrough with his second of the game put the Lakers up 3-0 early in the 3rd period. Waxman and Butchart assisted on the blast from the blueline. Lambton would break the shutout bid with 11 minutes left in the game. Will Thibeault added an empty netter to close out the scoring. Huron Perth connected 3 out of 5 times on the powerplay, while killing off all 3 of their penalties taken.