Kublick scores in OT for win to move Lakefield Chiefs into first place

LAKEFIELD — The Lakefield Hendren Funeral Home Chiefs moved into first place in the Provincial Junior Hockey League Orr Division with a dramatic 1-0 overtime win over the Clarington Eagles on Tuesday night at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre.

The game went scoreless through three regulation periods in a goaltenders’ duel between Lakefield’s Andrew Barwinski and Clarington’s Brandon Soucy. Chiefs captain Braeden Kublick scored on Soucy just 13 seconds into overtime to send the hometown fans home happy. Barwinski and William Keith assisted on the goal.

Barwinski stopped 28 shots for his fourth shutout of the season. Soucy made 36 saves on 37 shots in a losing effort for the Eagles, who fell to 11-13-2-0 and remain in fifth place.

The Chiefs (19-5-1-2) moved two points ahead of the North Kawartha Knights (19-4-0-1) but the Knights hold three games in hand. The Chiefs earlier gained ground with a 5-3 win over the Knights on Saturday at the North Kawartha Community Centre in Apsley.

The Chiefs now have a week off before hosting the Port Perry Mojacks on Tuesday at 7:25 p.m. at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre. They will then hit the road to face the Little Britain Merchants on Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and the Gananoque Islanders on Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.