Up until Tuesday night, the Junior A semi-final series between the Innisfil Lakers and the Temiscaming Royals had been a battle of goalies.
The night before, in the fifth game of the series, with the teams tied 2-2, Lakers goalie Matt Treadwell fielded 65 shots with only three finding the mark.
It was the second time he’d “stood on his head” during the series, according to general manger Dan Garneau and it was enough to win them the game 4-3 in overtime and put them up 3-2 in the series.
Expecting the same tight game when the teams returned to Innisfil Tuesday, it was a surprise to everyone when five minutes into the game the Lakers were up 3-0, eventually winning 11-4.
“It took the wind out of their sails when we won in overtime,” said coach Todd Miller, referring to the fifth game in Temiscaming. “That was it for them.”
It certainly appeared to be it, with the Temiscaming team missing in action for most of the game while Innisfil dropped pucks into the net like their goalie Guillaume Piché wasn’t even there. With the score at 6-0 at the end of the first period, Temiscaming pulled Piché from the game but his replacement didn’t fare much better.
By the end of the second, Lakers were up 9-1 and the contest was over.
Jonathan Dew, top scorer for the Lakers in the game, didn’t play the third period, but still scored 4 goals and 1 assist, placing him second in playoff scoring with 26 points in 13 games.
The Lakers pulled several of their stronger players in the final period to avoid injuries in preparation for the final series against the defending champion Bradford Rattlers.
“They were going after some of our players,” said Garneau, “so they didn’t play the third period, just to make sure they weren’t injured.”
Throughout the series there’d been conflict between the two teams with several suspensions coming down at Monday’s game. Included in the animosity were threats from the Temiscaming coaching staff directed at the Lakers staff and players.
But as with all the adversity the Lakers have faced this year, they responded the only way they know how.
“The guys got sick of it (the threats),” said Garneau, “They’d had enough.”
Their determination to finish the series was evident the moment they stepped on the ice. Other than Dew’s 4 goals, seven other players (Holm, Nikkanen, Grainger, Pouliot, Ward, Arvastsson and Gagnon) contributed a single goal to the final 11-4 slaughter. Even when the team was up by eight points, they weren’t taking any chances, and played a hard fast game to the end.
“This was our goal,” said Miller, referring to making the championship series, “With all the adversity they’ve faced, for them to get through all this, we couldn’t ask for any better.”
Being prepared for a little adversity can only help them in the final series. The Lakers lost to the Rattlers by a single point twice during the regular season but won the final match-up 10-6.
“They’re very similar teams with very strong offenses,” said Miller, “We know we can play with them.”
With such closely matched teams, Miller expects it to be a good series. “(The Lakers) have wanted to play this team in the final all year,” he said.
Upping the ante for the players at the games will be the abundance of clipboards in the stands. To date, 25 schools have confirmed they’ll send scouts to the final series. It’s a trend the Lakers have been seeing all year, with two NHL scouts having already attended some games with the possibility of 16-year-old Phil Grainger making the NHL draft next year.
“It would be great for the team,” said Garneau, referring to Grainger, “It would put Innisfil on the map.”
Currently there are eight Lakers with the ability and timing to get scholarships next year.
“It’s very exciting,” said Miller, “The future is right there for these kids.”
The Lakers play their first game against Bradford Friday, March 28 at the Innisfil Recreation Centre at 8:30 p.m.
Garneau is hoping to see a large crowd. “It can make the difference between winning and losing,” he said.
During the season, the Lakers only lost two games in regulation play at the recreation centre, leaving them 22-2 at home.
“Anyone playing us at home better bring their ‘A’ game.”
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