ATHLETICS HANG ON FOR CLOSE HOME WIN AGAINST PETERBOROUGH

It’s the longest road trip in the OJLL – 257 kilometres, from Peterbrough Memorial Centre to St Catharines Canada Games Park, the site of Wednesday’s matchup between the Lakers and Athletics. Stringing wins and goals together has been an issue for both teams this season. However, on Wednesday it was the Athletics who were consistent throughout the evening, winning 8-6.

Peterborough led past the midway mark of the first period. Daniel Clark scored and added an assist on Nicholas Roode’s following goal. Roode and Clark combined again later in the period on Michael Blaymires’ goal, but Julian Race provided a second for the Athletics in transition in the last minute of the first, which Peterborough led 3-2.

An early Peterborough penalty led to Keaton Zavitz extending the lead in the second. The combination of Blaymires’ scoring with Roode and Clark assisting struck again five minutes later, which is where the scoring stood until the final three minutes. Zavitz again struck on the power play before Tye Steenhuis scored a minute later to lead 5-4 heading into the third.

Five minutes into the third Clark would score again, but his goal was answered by Steenhuis 26 seconds later. Zavitz hat trick and Colin French provided enough offense for St Catharines to hang on for an 8-6 win.

As captain Keaton Zavitz (3+0) and Tye Steenhuis (2+1) provided five of eight goals. Isaac Prantera (1+2) also had three points, but Zackary Toll led St Catharines with four assists.

Michael Blaymires’ hat trick (3+1) was just the fourth of his OJLL career, but second in four games. Daniel Clark (2+4) led the Lakers with Nicholas Roode (1+3) right behind.