The Lambton Jr. Sting Minor Atom AAA were looking forward to putting their dismal record in 2012 of 7 wins, 26 losses and 6 ties behind them and starting fresh in 2013. The Minor Atoms started their 2013 quest on Sunday, January 6 when they travelled to the Medway Arena in London to take on their arch nemesis, the Jr. Knights. Unfortunately, the team found themselves down early and had to claw their way back into the game.
After one period of play, Lambton found themselves being out shot 16 to 4 and down 4-0 to a team that they really didn’t want to lose to. The Jr. Sting found themselves down 5-0, early in the 2nd, before Owen “Peety” Peters passed the puck up to Derek “Tugger” Esselment who used his speed to out skated a Jr. Knight’s defensemen and slide his 9th of the season past the London goaltender and just ten minutes later, Andrew “Chacunsongoût” Lemieux scored his 21st of the season on a well timed wrap-a-round from Austin “Harps” Harper. However, the team found themselves down 8-2 after 30 minutes and being out shot 31 to 10.
Harper took a tripping penalty as the puck was dropped to begin the 3
rd period of play but just 13 seconds later Nicholas “Nicki” Medeiros scored his 8
th of the season shorthanded. Lemieux would bring the visitors within 4 just
1:16 later when he buried his own rebound on a backhander from Lucas “Love Muffin” deLorenzo. The Jr. Sting continued to skate and was able to capitalize on a power play mid-way through the 3
rd when Esselment scored his second of the game from Lemieux and Eric “Dozer” McDonald. Carson “Franklin” Peer would score his 4
th of the season from Owen “Bones” Chambers before the final buzzer sounded. Goaltender, Blake “Fozzy” Foster, played well between the pipes turning away 35 of the 44 shots he faced. The team battled hard in the 3
rd period but just could not overcome their early deficit and ended up losing 9-6.
The team plays two home games this weekend. On Saturday, the Jr. Sting are at home to their divisional rivals, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs and Sunday they look for retribution against the Jr. Knights
Go Sting Go!!!!!