Lakefield Herald Special Report

Chiefs lead Uxbridge 3-1

by Jim Carson

After a 5-2 win at home Tuesday night the Lakefield Chiefs took a 3-1 series lead against the first place Uxbridge Bruins in the Central Ontario Jr. “C” Championship series.

Lakefield won the first two games of the series before the Bruins got back into the series Friday night in Uxbridge beating the Chiefs 5-2.

Uxbridge led 1-0 after the first period on a shorthanded goal by Callum Lynch. The Chiefs outshot the Bruins 10-8 but couldn’t find the back of the net early in the period where they pretty well controlled the game to that point.

In he second period Dylan Ross gave Uxbridge a 2-0 lead before Eric Shewell got his fourth goal of the playoffs to bring the Chiefs to within one however, two late goals 42 seconds apart left the Chiefs trailing 4-1 going into the third.

Just two minutes and thirty four seconds into the third, Shewell got his second goal of the game to give Lakefield some hope but Matt Allen scored on a power play at the 13:42 minute mark to ice the game for Uxbridge. Uxbridge out-shot Lakefield 25 to 24 in the game.

Captain Nathan Larson and Steve Doustis sat out the first of their two game suspensions however, Uxbridge appealed the suspension of Doustis to the OHA who lifted the second game of the suspension making him eligible to play in game four in Lakefield.

At home Tuesday night, Derek Manley scored his sixth and seventh goal of the playoffs to lead Lakefield to a 5-2 win and a 3-1 series lead.

Lakefield led 3-1 after the first period, 4-2 after the second and scored the lone goal in the third.

Travis Brault scored his first goal of the series to go along with five assists in the playoffs while Jesse Gregory added a goal and a assist for six goals and six assist in the Chiefs 8 playoff games to date.

Defenceman Curtis Bolton also picked a goal for Lakefield. Jordan Walsh and Riley Campbell both had two assists for the Chiefs who will travel to Uxbridge Friday night for game five. Game times are 7:45 p.m.

Game six if needed will be played in Lakefield Saturday night a 7:30.

Zac Wainman got the win in net Tuesday stopping 23 shots while Jordan Walsh was the Flannigan Butcher Shop Player of the Game.

Coach Tim McCormick who is in his first playoff year as Head Coach of the Chiefs is not taking anything for granted despite a 3-1 series lead.

“We are playing a very good hockey team with a lot of pride and we have to be aware that we have to bring our “A” game every night. We just have to play each shift, each period with a lot of confidence and be disciplined. It is a question now of who wants it the most,” stated McCormick.

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