Lakers Fall to Rock Again
The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers fell to the Oakville Rock 9-8 in overtime on Thursday night at the Memorial Centre. It was the Lakers’ second loss in as many home games this season, and their second loss to Oakville. It drops the Lakers’ record to 2-3 nearly halfway through the 12-game season.
“With all the success we had in the past, I think it’s good for us to go through it right now, get it over with at the start of the year so we can find our way during the playoffs,” remarked forward Thomas Hoggarth, who led the Lakers’ offence with five goals.
Sam English’s second goal of the game was the winner, scored with 3:56 remaining in the 10-minute sudden death period.
It was Sport a Rainbow Celebrates Pride, presented by Circul Air Corp. at the arena, and the Lakers wore unique, limited edition Pride-themed jerseys for the game. The jerseys are available for auction via https://web.dashapp.io/event/66707655ceb32c00087f2620 or the DASH Auctions app until Friday night at 9 p.m.
Sport a Rainbow is a pledge-based organization with the goal of eradicating hateful speech and actions in sport, and was founded by Lakers’ game night coordinator Rose Powers. It was the second year the Lakers have hosted a Pride-themed game.
Hoggarth sent the game to overtime with his fifth marker of the night, converting Rob Hellyer’s pass as he cut through the middle. He was the only Laker to beat Nick Rose more than once.
“I think we had our shots and Rosey played well,” Hoggarth said. “He played unreal. He’s one of the top goalies in the league and he proved it tonight. Next time those’ll drop for us.”
In the first period, Mitch Ogilvie and Colton Armstrong were stopped on consecutive transition attempts before Andrew Kew opened the scoring for Oakville, ripping an outside shot on following play. Matt Gilray tied it up 59 seconds later, finishing off a two-on-one with Joey Cupido. Hoggarth followed that up with his first of the night, cutting up the middle. A two-on-one the other way saw Alex Kew (younger brother of the aforementioned Andrew) tie the game 2-2 with his first MSL goal. Hoggarth put the Lakers up 3-2 with 1:26 left in the period, slipping the ball over Rose’s left shoulder.
In the second, Nathan Grenon tied the game at three before Hoggarth went over Rose’s other shoulder for his hat trick goal. Joe Resetarits put the Lakers up 5-3 off a behind-the-back flip pass from Rob Hellyer, but the Rock then rattled off four goals in a row to lead 7-5 after 40 minutes.
“The offence was having some success in the first period and in the second we got away from some of the things we did in the first,” explained defensive coach Bobby Keast. “When they can get off the floor and allow our D to get out and meet guys straight up instead of chasing, we have a great opportunity to shut them down. We got in a track meet with them and right now we’re losing those battles.”
Amid making 46 saves, Doug Buchan held the Rock to a single goal in the third period, allowing the Lakers to catch up. Owen Hiltz blasted in a transition goal off the bench, and Hoggarth got them back within a goal with 4:35 left.
“Dougie held them to one in the third which he needed to do to give us an opportunity to go to overtime,” Keast said. “Nick Rose is a world-class goalie. He’s proved it this past winter and he did it again tonight.”
Andrew Kew led the Rock with a hat trick and two assists, and Nathan Grenon added two goals and two assists. Rose made 58 saves.
Keast is assured that the Lakers will turn things around.
“The coaching staff and the group that’s in [our] dressing room, they are committed to making us right,” he said. “We’re doing little things to make improvements and we as coaches are seeing differences. We just have to put it together for a full 60 minutes.”
After the game, Rose Powers addressed the team in the locker room, discussing why the Sport A Rainbow pledge to eradicate hateful speech and actions in sports is so important to continue to do. It was a good message for the players to hear after a loss, to help put things in perspective.
The Lakers have their first trip to visit the Owen Sound North Stars on Saturday at 7 p.m. They’re back home for a pair of home games next week. Tuesday they host the North Stars on a night honouring the 1984 and 2004 Mann Cup champion Laker teams, and Thursday they host the Six Nations Chiefs. Tickets for both games are on sale through the Memorial Centre box office.
SCORING FOR THE LAKERS:
Thomas Hoggarth (5-0)
Joe Resetarits (1-1)
Owen Hiltz (1-0)
Matt Gilray (1-0)
Rob Hellyer (0-4)
Joey Cupido (0-2)
Holden Cattoni (0-2)
Turner Evans (0-1)
Jake Withers (0-1)
Taite Cattoni (0-1)
