Game 15 vs. Shallow Lake Lakers
It was back on the ice as the Walkerton Capitals played host
to the visiting Shallow Lake Lakers on Friday, January 12, 2024. The game was played after the Lakers decided
to make the trip after some initial discussion concerning a potential snow
storm moving through the province. The
Capitals hadn’t played since before Christmas
but any concerns over rust were quickly put to rest.
The opening few minutes of the game had the team start out slowly
but the pace quickly increased after the first few shifts. Walkerton would open the scoring just before
the six minute mark of the period when Marshall Odell jumped on a juicy rebound
and buried a hard wrist shot over the glove the Lakers netminder. Assists on the play were credited to Spencer
Odell and Luka Abell. Walkerton would continue
to pressure and would be rewarded when Spencer Odell scored while on the power
play after he to fired a rebound into the top of the Lakers net. It would be Travis Goll and Duncan Abell who
would pick up assists on the play.
Walkerton would score with one and a half minutes remaining in the
period when Luka Abell came down the wing and fired a hard shot five hole on
the Shallow Lake goalie after taking a pass from Matthew McNaughton. Walkerton would take a 3-0 lead after the
first period of play.
The second period and there would be no let up in the speed
and tempo of the game. Walkerton’s
Connor Farrell would score early in the period after he potted a goal from in close,
assisted by Jasper Rowe and Niklas Howald.
The two teams would continue playing at a feverish pace with each team
testing the opposing goalie with a barrage of shots from the point as well as
in tight. The goalies were both playing
some excellent hockey making some great saves to keep the game close. Walkerton held a 4-0 lead as the teams headed
to the dressing room for the flood at the end of the second period.
The third period would see the Lakers come out quickly and
continue with pressure in the Walkerton end.
The Lakers would score while on the power play when a shot from just
inside the blueline found the back of the Walkerton net. The Capitals would again respond quickly and
it would be Spencer Odell who split the Lakers defense and outwaited the
goaltender before sliding the puck into the corner of the net. The Capitals would then score with time
winding down when Travis Goll lifted a backhander just under the crossbar after
a rebound came out to the side of the Shallow Lake net. Spencer Odell would pick up the assist on the
goal.
A new year, same results as Walkerton played a strong game
with hard skating, great work along the boards and some timely scoring after
going to the net and not giving up. Both
goalies did a great job in between the pipes for their respective teams making
some truly outstanding saves that would make a highlight reel of any
professional televised game.
WALKERTON CAPITALS - 6
SHALLOW LAKE LAKERS - 1