This past weekend the Minor Atom Lakers hosted the
Cambridge Hawks on Saturday and traveled to Kitchener to face the Rangers on
Sunday.
On Saturday the Hawks and Lakers played an exciting and
emotional game. The Hawks took an early 1-0 lead before Olmstead slid an outlet
pass to Kipfer who sprung Marshall who fired a shot to the top of the net over
the glove of the Hawks goalie to tie the game at one.
In the second period Harmer scored three
unanswered goals for the natural hat trick. Assists on the goals went to Jewitt
with two and singles to Coyne and Nicholson. However the Hawks also scored
three and the game was still tied at four heading to the third
In the third both teams got into penalty trouble and the game began to get physical. The Lakers took the lead 5-4 when Jewitt's shot hit the post rebounded off the goalie's skate and slowly crossed the line. Assists on the goal went to Nicholson and Coyne. However a short time later the Hawks tied it at five as this roller coaster game continued.
In the dying seconds of the third the Lakers drove the net which caused further pushing and shoving after the whistle sending a player from each team to the penalty box. With eight seconds left and the face off in the Hawks end the Lakers won the draw and Visneskie threw a shot on net that found its way past the Hawks goalie with one second remaining on the clock for a 6-5 Lakers win.
Boersma picked up the win with some incredible and timely saves in the Lakers net.
On Sunday the Lakers traveled to Kitchener to face off against the Rangers. In the first period the Lakers started slow as the Rangers scored two before the end of the period for an early 2-0 lead.
In the second the Lakers woke up and began to push the pace. Jewitt scored a beauty to the top of the net after Coward made a great outlet pass to Harmer who found Jewitt in front of the net. The Lakers continued to force the play when Harmer found the back of the net after driving hard around the Rangers defence. Assists on the goal went to Jewitt and Coward.
In the third the Rangers took a 3-2 lead but it could have been much worse if not for Bree in the pipes who made some great glove saves keeping the Lakers only down by a goal.
Late in the third Houben won a face off in the Rangers end where Visneskie fired a high shot over the outstretched glove of the Rangers netminder tying the game at three.
This seemed to further energize the Lakers as Visneskie blocked a shot at his own blue line and then carried the puck into the Hawks end and found Hodge who had joined the rush and slid the puck behind the Rangers goalie for a 4-3 lead.
From that point on, the Lakers defence shut down the Rangers offence at every opportunity which allowed Harmer to put the game away with an empty netter for a 5-3 win. This was a well rounded team win as all three lines were moving the puck, the defence worked hard down low making some great outlet passes and Bree was calm and cool in the pipes.
The Lakers face off against the Waterloo Wolves next Saturday in St Mary's at 3:45. Come out and cheer on the Minor Atom Lakers.
Article written by Ryan Olmstead