Lakers Fall One Shot Short

The Wallaceburg Lakers are 0-2 to start the 2014-2015 regular season, but they are looking much improved over the product they put on the ice last year.

Saturday, Wallaceburg travelled to face the Mooretown Flags, and fell one shot short, losing 3-2 to the Flags in a shootout.

After a scoreless first period, Mooretown’s Caden Fleming put the home team on the board. Wallaceburg however, would respond only 15 seconds later as Mike Brown scored his first of the season, with Mike Kindrachuck assisting.

Before the second frame was out however, former Wallaceburg Laker Sam Jasmin would scored to give Mooretown the 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

In the third, Wallaceburg rookie Brendan Ritchie, who is the team’s 16-year-old this season, scored his first Junior C goal, with Josh Berkvens assisting, to send the game to overtime.

With the extra frame solving nothing, the teams went to a shootout, where Mooretown’s first two shooters scored, ending the game.

Scotty Gray played a spectacular game in net for the Lakers, earning praise from coach Ken Shine, who selected him as a Riversite Realty Todd and Rick Shepley Player of the Game, after the netminder made 39 saves in the loss.

Wallaceburg picked up their first point of the season in the loss. Wallaceburg will now host the Essex 73s, who also remain winless after two games, Wednesday, September 17 at 7:30pm.

In other Junior hockey news, the Wheatley Sharks fell 4-2 to the Alvinston Flyers in their season opener.