New Look Lakers Stun Whitby Warriors

It was a new-look Peterborough Lakers lineup that took the floor Monday night against the Whitby Warriors. Following a blockbuster trade that sent (G) Deacan Knott, Zack Thompson and Ben Trumble to Burlington at the deadline, the Lakers used four special teams goals in the second to win 9-6.

One of the players coming back in the trade was Teharonhiorens McComber, who started the scoring, six and a half minutes into the first. Treysen Stewart and Jack Budway followed for Whitby, but then in the final minute of the period, Nick Dilauro re-tied the game at two.

Riley Knox has scored in all but three Warriors’ games so far this season. His shot just over a minute into the second gave the lead back to Whitby. A cross-checking call against Peterborough turned into a positive for the Lakers who scored back-to-back shorthanded goals, including Tom Collins on a clean breakaway. It was Nicholas Roode and Collins together again later in the period, this time on the man advantage, leading to a 5-3 period and 7-5 lead overall.

Michael Blaymires and Owen Tapper traded goals in the third before Reece Dicicco sealed the 9-6 victory with an empty netter.

With the departure of Deacan Knott, Jackson Hainer got the start for Peterborough stopping 38 of 44 shots for his fourth career OJLL win, and first since June 6 last season when he ran off three straight wins. Newcomer Teharonhiorens McComber finished with four points (1 goal, 3 assists). Three Lakers scored twice; Michael Blaymires, Nicholas Roode and Tom Collins.

Kaleb Martin took the loss for Whitby stopping 30 of 39 shots. It’s just the second time he’s lost back-to-back games in his career, the first coming at the start of this season. Treyson Stewart (2 goals, 2 assists) and Riley Knox (2 goals, 1 assist) each scored twice for the Warriors.

It’s a quick turnaround for both teams; Whitby will host the St Catharines Athletics (5-7) on Tuesday night, while the Lakers will travel to Pickering to face the Toronto Beaches (6-7).