Lakers drown from South final to Storm
By Jon Yaneff, Sports Reporter
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:41AM November 30th, 2011 6:30PM
Fighting for their playoff lives, the Innisfil Lakers played their best hockey of the season. After coming back from a 3-0 deficit to send their best-of-seven Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League South Division final with Deseronto Storm to a sixth game, the Lakers finally subsided, losing 4-3 in overtime at the Deseronto Community Centre Saturday.
Forward Jeff Morris was the hero, scoring 10:49 into the extra frame.
Deseronto had a 2-1 lead after the first period. Innisfil defenceman Dustin Timm scored in between Deseronto forwards Max Qwarnstrom (on the power play) and Greg Martyn.
Innisfil came back strong in the second, tying up the game with forward Max Douglas scoring on the power play. The Lakers then took the lead in the third, as forward Connor Hendry scored 5:20 into the period. Qwarnstrom then scored with 1:21 remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime.
Game 5 – Deseronto 0, Innisfil 1
In arguably the best game of the GMHL playoffs, the Lakers beat the Storm 1-0 at the Innisfil Recreational Complex in Barclay Friday to force Game 6.
In arguably the best game of the GMHL playoffs, the Lakers beat the Storm 1-0 at the Innisfil Recreational Complex in Barclay Friday to force Game 6.
Deseronto outshot Innisfil, 11-7, as with the Lakers on the power play in the last two minutes they had four shot on net to gain momentum heading into the second.
In the second the Lakers go their break, as forward Jonathan Dew was dominate scoring shorthanded after a Brian Davidson out-let pass.
One change Lakers head coach Shane Hicke made before the game had forward Caleb Lister lineup with one of Deseronto’s leaders, Brad Clark, instead of Dew, which was the matchup the majority of the series. In the second the change paid off, as Lister drew a couple of penalties on Clark and also rattled the forward, with a big powerful hit in the open ice.
“He’s a key player as he makes everything happen for them,†said Lister. “I just tried to take him out of the game so they couldn’t get anything going.â€
Both goaltenders – Jens Kensell for the Storm and Matevz Grabnar for the Lakers, each played unbelievable, making 25 and 30 saves respectively. Grabnar earned only the second 1-0 shutout in GMHL history.
“That’s my first win and it’s always nice when you get a win like that especially when the other team outshoots you,†said Grabnar. “But, it’s everybody’s win, we all played our best and the result is on the scoreboard.â€
“When you have a hot goaltender it can make a difference,†said Hicke, of Grabnar, who also won Game 4.
Game 4 – Innisfil 4, Deseronto 2
Innisfil exploded from the drop of the puck, scoring the first four goals with three in the first and another in the second, as they skated to the 4-2 win at Deseronto Wednesday (March 18).
Innisfil exploded from the drop of the puck, scoring the first four goals with three in the first and another in the second, as they skated to the 4-2 win at Deseronto Wednesday (March 18).
Forwards Max Newman and Aliaksei Kulikouskiy each scored power-play goals in the first 10 minutes, while forward D.J. Tahbazian also scored in the period for a 3-0 lead after the first.
Dew scored 5:43 into the second, while forward Darren Anderson made it a two-goal game, scoring twice before the end of the period.
Leaving Lakers: Many of the Innisfil players will probably be heading to college for next season, as the turnover in the Lakers two seasons is pretty substantial with only four players returning in their first campaign. They contribute this to good recruiting.
The goaltenders, Geoffrey Sadjadi may go to college, while Matevz Grabnar will head to either a high level of junior hockey or college.
Forwards Jonathan Dew, Aliaksei Kulikouskiy and Connor Hendry will all most likely attend college as well. Caleb Lister and Max Douglas will probably play at a higher level as well. Forward Max Newman will attempt to make a BC Junior League team. Defenceman Dustin Timm and Jamie Wicks will also pursue college and a higher level. Anthony Gambacorta will try to attend college for broadcasting, while still playing for the Lakers.
The 20-year-olds that would have been exiting regardless are defencemen Timm and Colin Gaffney and forwards Dew, Daniel Pitocco and Brian Davidson, who is the only one committed to a college.