Lambton Minor Midgets AAA Lost game 1 in Series against Kitchener
Monday february 3, 2014
The Lambton Jr. Sting Minor Midget AAA were in Kitchener on Saturday for their first Alliance playdown game in the series against the Kitchener Jr. Rangers and came away taking a 7 - 2 loss.
With their second place seating in the Western Division, the Jr. Sting earned a bye in the first round and have not played a regular league game since January 11th.
"Obviously I didn't think we were as sharp as what we liked from the goal out." head coach Jeff Perry said "I think the layoff, not to use it as an excuse, might have been a factor but ultimately we have to be better than what we were."
Power plays were a major factor in the game. Kitchener scored five power play goals on twelve opportunities. Lambton scored both of their goals on four opportunities.
"Anytime you surrender five power play goals it's difficult to win." Perry said
"With that being said it looked like we were at the Activa Aquatic Centre as oppose to the Activa Arena."
Perry was referring to the number of penalties his players took as a result of some theatrics and diving on the ice by the opposition.
"The players have obviously been taught on the other side to embellish diving. "When players flop all over the ice to try and draw penalties you know it's frustrating because it makes a mockery of the game."
Perry added "And it certainly puts the referees in a terrible situation because they are sometimes catching the last part of it. I'm not blaming the refs, it's obvious the coaches are teaching these guys how to dive."
"Also it's hard to defend if you can't defend against a guy without them falling all over the place and then you are getting called on it. Our game was terrible."
The Jr Rangers scored 2 goals in the first with one on a power play, added 5 in the second, with four scored on power plays and no scoring by either side in the third.
Lambton scored in the first and second period with Alex Dekoning from Dawson Cook and Curtis Helps scoring the first and in the second Brock Perry from DeKoning and Cook.
Kitchener outshot the Lambton 38 - 21. Lambton's Goaltending was shared by Kaden Fulcher and Nolan Hakr.
The two teams meet again for game 2 of the best of seven series on Tuesday February 4th in Sarnia at the RBC Centre at 7:00 pm.
"If our players are committed we can turn this around but we can't play this way to be successful in the series." Perry said
