Lakers face roadblock in Nobleton, losing 4-2 outcome to Wild

A four-game road trip with the season winding down definitely took its toll on the Innisfil Lakers.

Though the Lakers shut out two of four teams during the week, they experienced a tough, rough loss to the King Wild, dropping a 4-2 fight at the Dr. William Lacey Community Centre and Arena in Nobleton Saturday.

The game ended with a bang. With precisely 50 seconds left, the game was called by the referees due to extreme fighting and fear of the violence continuing.

Three fights occurred with less than a minute remaining. Forwards Steve Wicklum and Marc Fortin separately fought defencemen Tyler Roache and Jamie Wicks respectively.

After the game, parents and others from the Wild brass accused Lakers head coach Shane Hicke of sending his players purposely to fight the Wild.

?I wasn?t sending guys to fight, but I was telling them to grab (the opposing player),? Hicke clarified. ?So, for somebody to say we?re that type of team is absolutely wrong.?

There was also a rare goalie tilt, between the Wild?s Phil Bogner and the Lakers? Geoff Sadjadi.

?I think my emotions got the best of me,? said Sadjadi of his fight. ?I just wanted the game to end, so I think it was the right thing at the time, but at the same time I probably shouldn?t have done it.?

Sadjadi entered the game after the starting goalie, Matevz Grabnar, allowed three goals on 15 shots.
The Wild started hot, as centre Brendan Farrugia scored 45 seconds into the game. Forward Jon Adams made the score 2-0 about five minutes later.

Innisfil breathed life about a minute later, with forward Brian Davidson beating Bogner. Defenceman Manny Lopez made it closer in the second, as the only goal scorer of the frame.

With four and a half minutes left in the game, Wild centre Fortin scored an unassisted power-play goal, as he gained a burst of speed from the left side of the ice, then deking to the right, to beat Sadjadi. The goal gave the Wild a two-goal lead and put the game out of reach for the Lakers.

Bogner played possibly his best game of the year, registering 47 saves on 49 shots, while Grabnar made 12 saves in the first, then Sadjadi made 20 the rest of the way. The Wild beat the Lakers despite only having 11 skaters, compared to 16 for Innisfil.

?They (the Wild) played well, but we beat ourselves, that?s all there is to it,? said Hicke.
The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League South Division first-place Lakers (33-6-1, 67 points) had three victories during the week, starting with Tuesday at the Elvis Stojko, 4-0, against the sixth-place Ontario Lightning Rams (13-29, 26 points). Defenceman Anthony Gambacorta stepped it up, scoring twice and adding an assist.
Friday, the Lakers traveled to the Wikwenikong Arena, as they pummeled the North Division seventh-place Espanola Kings (6-33-1, 13 points), 12-2. Aliaksei Kulikouskiy had five goals, while Max Douglas added a goal and six assists. Connor Hendry also had an impressive night with a goal and four helpers.

Sunday was also a shutout for Innisfil at S. G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena in Minden against the North Division fifth-place Riverkings (17-22-1, 35 points) by the score of 6-0. After a first period hat trick by Jonathan Dew, the forward also added another marker and an assist in the second.

The Lakers will decide first place Friday, when the play their nemesis, the second-place Bradford Rattlers (32-6-1, 65 points) at the Innisfil Recreational Complex, starting at 7:30 p.m. They then end the season at home against the third-place Deseronto Storm (26-10-3, 55 points) at 2:30 p.m.

Absent report: This week the Lakers were missing a pair of defencemen, Payden Davidge and Shawn Sullivan.
From the front office: The Lakers were able to ink the Tamworth Cyclones only all-star, Colin Gafney. The former captain signed Feb. 10 for the rest of season. The defenceman should give the Innisfil squad some valued insurance on the blue-line, as he led the Cyclones in scoring with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 20 games. He is expected to play this week for the Lakers.

?We?ll giving him an opportunity to continuing playing this year,? said Hicke. ?He will be a good addition to our defence and gives us some good speed and puck control.?

Tamworth officially suspended operations Feb. 5.