Lakers Season Ends With 6 Game Scoreless Streak

The Wallaceburg Lakers didn’t end the 2017-2018 PJHL Stobbs Division regular season with a string of performances showing they were on the correct path for the future. Rather, the Lakers lost 12 straight to finish the year, with the last 6 of those coming as shutouts.

Wednesday night, the Lakers hosted the Essex 73s, and were handed a 6-0 loss in front of only 93 people at Memorial Arena.

The Lakers have finished last for 7 straight seasons, last qualifying for the playoffs in 2010-2011.

This season, Wallaceburg was 3-37-0-0.

Wallaceburg had two coaching changes this season, with Ryan Paxton finishing the year as head coach.

Leading the Lakers in scoring was Jake Vancoille who had 3 goals and 14 points in 38 games, followed by veteran acquisition Austin Bentley, who had 9 goals and 13 points in 25 games.

Rookie Bailey Smith was the leading scorer among Lakers’ defensemen, notching 2 goals and 10 points in 39 games.

Goaltender Travis Moore was Wallaceburg’s uncontested starter after being acquired midseason. He backstopped the team to 2 of 3 wins, including a stunning performance shutting out first place Lakeshore.

Defenseman Matt Brevetti, who had been one of Wallaceburg’s bright spots, is the lone overage player graduating. The Lakers have three players, Moore, Bentley, and Matt Tourigny eligible to return as overage players next year.