The Lambton Jr. Sting Major Atom AAA continued their improved play by taking 5 out of a possible 6 points from their opponents.
Recently, the Jr. Sting hosted the Hamilton Huskies hockey club at the RBC. Lambton came out flying going ahead 3 – 0 on goals by centre, Ryder Nienhuis, winger Carson Peer and defensemen Anthony Bax. Assists were awarded to Andrew Lemieux, Jake MacLean and Peer. Derek Esselment would put Lambton up 4 – 0 early in the second from Nienhuis and Peer before the Jr. Sting found themselves in penalty trouble, allowing the Huskies to score 3 powerplay goals on 8 opportunities. Peer would score his second of the game, early in the third, from Esselment and goaltender Kaden Gray stood tall to help preserved a 5 – 5 tie.
The team also travelled to Essex to take on one of their divisional rivals, the Sun County Panthers. This young Jr. Sting team knew they were going to have to work hard to steal 2 points from the 2nd place Panthers. Winger Bradyn Santavy would get things started, mid-way through the first period of play from centre Derek Esselment. Heading in to the second period, knotted at ones, captain, Ryder Nienhuis would put Lambton up 2 – 1 on some nice work on the boards by Andrew Lemieux. The third period was ALL Sting. Esselement would put the Jr. Sting up 3 – 1 when he buried an Anthony Bax dump in. Santavy was also awarded an assist on the play. Jake MacLean would score 5 minutes late from centre, Nate Highfield and Esselment would put the final nail in the coffin just 14 seconds later from defenseman, Matthew Moore. The Panthers would score one late but the mighty Jr. Sting were just too much for Sun County to handle. Goaltender, Blake Foster, came up big when he needed to for his second win of the season.
On Sunday, Lambton travelled to Bothwell to take on the Chatham-Kent Cyclones. Looking for another win, the Jr. Sting scored just 53 seconds into to the game when winger, Carter Viglsky made a nice move in front and buried the puck behind the Cyclones goaltender. Viglasky’s linemates, Andrew Lemieux and Ryder Nienhuis received assists on the play. Nate Highfield would put the visitors up 2 – 0, breaking in, shorthanded from Jake MacLean. Once again, the Jr. Sting found themselves in penalty trouble and Chatham would capitalize on one of their chances, cutting the lead to 2 – 1. Lambton would score a power play goal of their own before the end of the second period when Nienhuis converted a Lemieux pass from behind the net. Lambton would get another power play maker, mid-way through the 3rd, when defenseman Anthony Bax riffled a shot that the Cyclones goaltender never saw. Bax’s defensive partner, Conner Nesbitt, received the only assist on the play. Goaltender, Blake Foster, was one again spectacular between the pipes in the 4 – 2 win.
The team looks to take their improved play on the road this coming weekend when they travel to Mississauga to participate in the annual Shanahan Warrior Invitational Tournament.