Kings put Lumber to Skyhawks

In hockey, the goaltender is regularly referred to as a team's number one penalty killer, and the last line of defense. In a 2-0 loss Friday at Memorial Gardens, Mike Lalande was just that as his Skyhawks took on the 4th ranked junior team in the country, the Pembroke Lumber Kings.

The Kings are first place in the Central Junior "A" Hockey League, and have five of the top six point getters in the league. The offensive powerhouse fired 42 shots in total at Lalande. The first period was littered with penalties, most going against the hometown Skyhawks. Pembroke would have a goal disallowed due to a high stick, but would capitalize on a cross crease pass from Jason Walters to Scott Campbell moments later.

North Bays best chance to score came when Dustin McCrank rang one off the bar to keep the Hawks off the scoreboard. Pembroke carried most of the play in the first, especially midway through when North Bay would struggle to register a shot for the better part of ten minutes.

A disheartened North Bay head coach Kevin Kerr hopes his team was watching Pembroke carefully.

"Even though they’re very skilled, they’re tough and hard on the puck. Hopefully some of our guys took a few notes and understand what it takes to win," said Kerr.

The game continued on course in the second with the Kings registering 16 shots.

Lalande kept the Hawks withing striking distance making a great stick save as Campbell came cross-crease, only to be denied by the goalie in white.

"I felt pretty good," Lalande said afterwards."A was a little disappointed with the way I played against Sudbury so I felt I had to go out and make up for it."

Andrew White would get revenge for Campbell, whistling a shot through after a Skyhawk giveaway to put the visitors up two.

"I’m not going to bash my players," Kerr stated. "Yeah we hung in there, but five on five we weren’t competing hard enough."

Lumber Kings forward Ryan Lasch recorded one assist adding to his league leading points total of 34. Lasch is the offensive sparkplug for the Kings and it showed. He was all over the ice creating opportunities, setting up teammates, and fearlessly driving the net.

Pembroke would fire another 16 shots in the third while the Hawks did not register one. The highlight of the period for the Hawks was a glove save by Lalande on a high shot by Mike Stevens. It seemed Stevens had the whole side of the net, then Lalande flashed the leather to rob him of a goal.

A scuffle at the end of the game resulted in many minor and major penalties for both clubs. Overall the Hawks killed eleven penalties going perfect on the penalty kill.

"There’s not too many team like that that we’re going to face this year." Coach Kerr admitted.

"If we can continue to kill penalties like that, we’ll be okay."

The Hawks will look to break a three game losing skid Sunday night versus the Manitoulin Islanders. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Gardens.

Story by Jacob Robinson