Major Peewees defeat Grey Bruce Highlanders

The Huron Perth Lakers Major Peewees hosted the Waterloo Wolves in an exhibition tune-up game in Goderich on Monday. With several of the Lakers coming off playing OBA Championship games over the weekend the legs looked to be a little tired early in the game.

After the first couple of shifts the team seemed to get their skating legs going. A few minutes into the game Derek Elliott led the forecheck forcing the Waterloo defender to pivot back into the corner.

Winger Andrew Bogdon stripped the puck from the defenceman and fed an accurate pass onto the stick of Brody Tenpas. Tenpas made no mistake burying a high snapshot over the goalie’s glove.

Midway into the first period the Lakers had to kill off a two-man disadvantage.

Their penalty killing is proving to be a real asset early in the season. Starting goalie Cole Thomas was called upon to make a good blocker save late in the period keeping the Wolves off the scoresheet. The Lakers carried the play during the first period but could only register one goal.

The second period started promising for the Lakers as Elliott led a rush right from the drop of the puck, pushing a pass cross ice to Bogdon who redirected the pass onto the goal only to have the Waterloo goalie make a fine save.

At the halfway point Waterloo capitalized on a team defensive lapse deep in the Lakers zone and scored the tying goal. Both teams played out the rest of the second period going end-to-end. Eric

Ryan came in to relieve starting goalie Thomas and needed to be sharp immediately. Ryan made a great pad save on a tipped shot off a Wolves stick.

Early in the third period Gregory Swan chipped the puck off the wall to a waiting Nathan Templeman. Templeman carried the puck down the ice feathering a pass to Bayley Boyes, who jammed the go-ahead goal into the net. With six minutes left the Lakers pushed forward looking for an insurance goal. Garrett James pinched smartly into the Wolves end, chipping the puck to Templeman who banked a nice pass down low to Swan. Swan walked out of the corner all alone and snapped a shot pass the Waterloo goalie making the score 3-1.

Late in the game Roland McKeown made a heads-up play, splitting a pair of Waterloo defenders at the blue line, and launching a blast towards the Waterloo goal which just missed.
After a tune-up practice this week the Lakers head to Mississauga tonight to play their first two games in the Senators Co-Operators Cup.

Last Wednesday Lakers defeated the Grey Bruce Highlanders 6-2 in an exhibition match in Seaforth. Ryan was called upon to start the game. The Lakers came to play and started forechecking aggressively early in the game, forcing the play deep into the Highlanders’ end zone.

Boyes gave chase and pushed the puck around to Templeman, who put a perfect pass on Swan’s stick. Swan fired a shot on net, picked up his own rebound and finally found the back of the net.
James kept the momentum going for the Lakers with a big open-ice hit on a fast-moving Highlander forward.

The Highlanders responded with two quick goals midway through the first period, putting them ahead 2-1. Just seconds into the second period, Alex Peters and Swan combined to get the puck to Templeman, who tied the score at two apiece.

Thomas came in midway through the second period to tend goal for the Lakers. With several penalties being assessed, the Lakers defence had to play as a tight unit. Lakers coach Todd Goetz’s penalty killing units were up to the task, shutting down the Highlanders at every turn.

With the score tied 2-2, the Lakers started the third period with some extra jump in their stride.

Within the first minute Swan had scored twice to register the hat trick, McKeown had a pair of assists, with single helpers going to Templeman and Boyes.

Five minutes into the third period, Boyes and Templeman muscled the puck from the Highlander defenders and found Swan in front of the goal, where he netted his fourth of the night.

Late in the game the Lakers showed good conditioning as they continued to gain more momentum. Bogden and James displayed good teamwork as they set up Elliott for the sixth goal, making the final score 6-2.