Kevin Croswell called up to start in net for Lakers

Lakers hosting Kodiaks tonight

Less than a week after assigning Kevin Croswell to the Norwood James Gang the Peterborough Lakers will start the local native Thursday.

With first-string goalie Tyler Carlson nursing a sore knee and Kurtis Wagar in Collingwood for a work-related course, Lakers coach/GM Jamie Batley said Croswell will start when the Lakers host the KitchenerWaterloo Kodiaks at 8 p.m. at the Memorial Centre. The Lakers are hoping to avenge an 11-8 overtime loss to the Kodiaks on June 8.

Carlson pulled himself early in Sunday’s 8-5 win in Brampton after straining his knee diving to make a cross-crease save. Wagar replaced him and allowed just three goals the rest of the way.

“Since the weekend we have sent (Croswell) to senior B for the year,” Batley said.

“Being a number three goalie he might not have got time with us. We sent him there to get playing time knowing we could use him as an affiliated player. Now we need him.”

Croswell was pulled in his only start for the Lakers this season a 15-9 loss in Brooklin on May 26. Cole Murray will serve as backup.

“The last two years we’ve brought in two goalies because we felt we needed to after losing Mike Thompson,” Batley said. “Tyler Carlson and Kurtis Wagar have worked out well for us. Now we have depth in goaltending.”

Batley expects a full lineup with the exception of John Grant Jr. who is expected to make his 2013 Lakers debut next week when they visit Brooklin Wednesday before hosting Six Nations the next night.

The Lakers (6-3-0) will put their four-game unbeaten home record on the line against the Kodiaks (3-5-0).