The Peterborough Lakers take Game One of the best-of-seven semifinals with a 14-10 win over the Brooklin L.C. at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby on Tuesday night.
Both teams put their offense on display in the first period, scoring six goals. Joe Resetarits and Holden Cattoni scored a pair while Thomas Hoggarth and Colton Armstrong got a single.
“Usually you kind of feel each other out but it was wide open from the get go,” said Mike Hasen, Lakers head coach. “Everybody capitalizes on mistakes at both ends of the floor. She was wide open, she was very helter-skelter to say the least, in the first period.”
The Lakers opened up the second period with a three-goal run. Hggarth got his second goal while Taylor Jensen and Austin Hasen joined the scoresheet for Peterborough. The teams traded two goals apiece to close out the period and the Lakers held an 11-8 lead going into the third.
“That was the most fun I’ve had, definitely,” said Jensen. “Kells did awesome, Ogilvie, Gilray, Pace did awesome. Everyone did awesome. I’m happy to play with all of these guys.”
Rob Hellyer opened the scoring just 48 seconds in before Brooklin tried to mount a comeback. They scored two goals within the first three minutes of the game to make it 12-10 with 17 minutes left to play. Lakers goaltender Landon Kells shut the door afterward and let nothing pass him for the rest of the game. Peterborough held on for the 14-10 win and took game one of the best-of-seven series.
Game two returns to the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday starting at 8 p.m.