Some
tough luck this past weekend resulted in a tie and a loss as the Minor Midgets
returned to action after their NCAA trip a week ago.
Game
1 of the weekend had the Lakers in Hamilton against the Huskies on Friday
night. The boys looked ready as soon as they hit the ice and it
translated into a quick 2 goal lead on markers by Sheldon Pryce (from Lakin
Hendry) and Kaden Hoggarth on a scramble in the slot. The Huskies would
get one back on the powerplay late in the period on a shot that sure looked
like it hit the crossbar and stayed out. The referee, however, saw it
differently despite the protests of goalie Garrett Golley and defenseman Andrew
VanBoekel who vigorously voiced their disagreement with the call. The
first period ended with the Lakers up by a goal.
The
boys had their cycling game in full gear early in the second period and it
directly lead to Pryce's second goal of the game, putting the Lakers up
3-1. However, another powerplay goal on a shot through the screen, put
the Huskies back within one. Blake Wideman restored the two goal lead on
an absolute bomb from the slot on a puck that rolled out to him as he walked
right into the shot. Again the Huskies would close the gap on a breakaway that
Golley initially made a big save on, but the shooter was able to gain his own
rebound and chip the puck up and over for the goal. 4-3 Lakers at the end
of two.
A
slow start to the period by Huron-Perth yielded another breakaway opportunity
less than a minute into the third and Hamilton tied it up at four. Carter
Roth came on in relief of Golley and was able to battle through another Huskies
powerplay and shut the door for the rest of the way. The Lakers just
missed on a couple of high quality chances toward the end of the third, but
were unable to break the tie. A single point on a night that started
better than it ended.
Sunday's
match-up saw the Lakers hit the road again - this time with Brantford as the
destination. This marked the first tilt of the season with the second
place 99ers. A very quick start to this one - both teams traded chances
in the first. The 99ers were able to open the scoring with just under two
minutes to play in the first on a shot low to the blocker side of Roth. Unfortunately,
the damage wasn't limited to the scoreboard as shortly after the goal, Hoggarth
went down injured and had to leave the game.
Brantford
was able to double their lead to two on a shot off the left wing that just
snuck in between Roth's pad and the post. Huron-Perth had a number of good
chances, including a Bobby Leis breakaway and three point blank chances on a
powerplay, but the Brantford goalie stood tall and denied each chance. Finally,
the boys managed to put one on the board when Nolan Gagnier banged one home
after a scramble in the slot. The second period ended with the 99ers up
by a goal.
More
tough luck at the start of the third, when an apparent icing was waved off at
the last second and the puck bounced right out into the slot in behind the
surprised Laker defence where the Brantford forward picked it up and tucked it
past Roth. Definitely think the officials needed a refresher on icing
rules on that one. The Lakers would get that one back on the powerplay
when Carter Schoonderwoerd cut to the middle of the ice and wristed the puck
high into the net. Lakers down by one. However, with Roth on the bench
for the extra attacker, the 99ers fired one the length of the ice into the open
cage to ice the game. Final score - Brantford 4, Huron-Perth 2.
Next
weekend features two home games as the boys look to rebound. Friday night vs.
Kitchener and Sunday afternoon against Lambton.