The Wallaceburg Lakers have been struggling all season in the Great Lakes Jr C Hockey league and had just one win heading into Wednesday's game. Win number two couldn't be more satisfying to the team as they downed the league leaders Essex 73's (18-1-1-1)  5 - 3 in front of 260 hockey fans in Wallaceburg.

 

Wallaceburg took a 1 - 0  lead in the first period on a power play goal scored by Evan Weindenbach asssited by Connor Johnston and DJ Sapone.  Second period saw Essex tie things up with Scott Bromley scoring.  The Lakers regained the lead midway into the period with Ryan Gruszka scoring assisted by Weidenbach.  A second power play goal gave the Lakers a 3 - 1 lead heading into the third.  Scott Lubbers scored assisted by Gruszka and Just Whitson.

 

In the third it was a back and forth affair with Essex scoring just :51 seconds into the period by Dylan Solecki.  Evan Weidenbach scored his second goal of the night assisted by Mike Kindarachuk six minutes into the period.  Just over a minute later Essex fought back and narrowed the Lakers lead to 4 - 3 with Matthew Hebert scoring.  Essex continued to fight back and in the last minute of play pulled their goalie but Justin Whitson found the empty net and sealed the win.  Ryan Gruszka earned the assist on the empty net goal.

 

Essex outshot the Lakers 65 - 37.  Outstanding goaltending by Joel Sowinski who gave the Lakers the win making an amazing total of 62 saves.

Arren Romeril took the loss made 32 saves.

 

The Lakers are back in action next Wednesday November 27 when they host Blenheim at 7:30 in Wallaceburg.  Game time is set for 7:30 pm.