Redmen upend the Lakers again
Semifinal series all comes down to tonight’s Game 7 at Memorial Centre after third straight loss
WHITBY – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are now also facing elimination after the Brooklin Redmen forced a deciding Game 7 on Thursday in Peterborough with a 9-6 win in Game 6 of their MSL semifinal in Whitby on Wednesday night.
The defending Mann Cup champions, trying to get to their 14th MSL final in 15 years, made a late push at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre but couldn’t overcome a four-goal deficit established by the home side in the third period.
The team will, however, draw from adjustments made late in the game that seemed to spark them, captain Robert Hope said after the game.
“I think we can really build off that and get better from there,” he said after the Lakers’ third straight loss.
The winner of the series will face Oakville in the MSL final after the Rock defeated Six Nations 9-7 in overtime to win that semifinal 4-2 on Wednesday night.
The Redmen opened the scoring at 8:44 on the power play before the Lakers responded eight seconds later as Mark Steenhuis buried a pass from Jake Withers.
Brooklin took a 5-4 lead into the third period. The home side poured it on early in the third, scoring a pair in the first 2:17 for its first three-goal lead.
The first may have been one of the nicest of the series, as Dan Lintner sniped a short side backhander that could only be fully appreciated on video replay.
The Redmen then doubled their lead to 8-4 with 6:47 left in the game as both teams had a player in the box.
The Lakers scored two 22 second apart to get within two but the Redmen added another with just over four minutes left.
There was a steady stream of Lakers to the penalty box in the final two minutes as tempers flared and each team aimed to set the tone for Game 7.
Holden Cattoni led the offence for the Lakers with two goals and an assist.
Linter led the Redmen with four goals and an assist.
Evan Kirk made 40 saves in his series debut.
Mike Poulin made 47 saves for Brooklin.
NOTES: Tickets for Game 7 will go on sale Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at the Memorial Centre box office, online at www.memorialcentre.ca or by phone at 705-743-3561 … Corey Small, who was at a wedding, was among 11 Lakers’ scratches.… Whitby Mayor Don Mitchell dropped the ceremonial opening faceoff.
Redmen 9 Lakers 6
Series: The best-of-seven MSL semifinal is tied 3-3. Game 7 is at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Lakers scorers: Holden Cattoni (2-1), Adam Jones (1-2), Mark Steenhuis (1-0), Cory Vitarelli (1-0), Josh Currier (1-0), Shawn Evans (0-2), Brock Sorensen (0-1), Turner Evans (0-1), Jake Withers (0-1), Andrew Suitor (0-1), Kyle Buchanan (0-1) Redmen scorers: Dan Lintner (4-1), Mark Matthews (0-4), Austin Shanks (0-3), Shayne Jackson (0-3), Reilly O’Connor (1-1), Ryan Keenan (2-0), Graeme Hossack (0-1), Jordi Jones-Smith (0-1), Derek Suddons (0-1), Nick Chaykowsky (1-0), Adrian Sorichetti (1-0)