Nov 28, 2021 | Steve McGrail | 379 views
Goaltenders Stand Tall in Weekend Pair of Games
John Chartrand and Joe Malinowski have stood tall between the pipes for the u18 Sting. They both get peppered each game with 40+ shots and both goalies keep the team in the game giving the team a fighting chance to win.
Saturday The Sting travelled to the Rim Centre in Waterloo for a 630pm tilt against the Wolves. Joe Malinowski was in net for Lambton. The Wolves would score first but the Sting answered back on a powerplay goal by Luke DesRoches assisted by Jacob Montesi. Game tied 1-1. Colton Graham would intercept a pass in the Waterloo end and skated in and converted on a low drive under the Wolves goalie's pads. Sting went to the intermission with a 2-1 lead.
In the second period, Waterloo tied it up at 2-2 before Anthony Tudino scored a power play as he picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and took it in and scored. Sting up 3-2. Then with 4:13 left in the 2nd period, Tudino again would strike on a nice set up from Tyler June to make it 4-2 heading to the intermission.
The third period saw the Wolves come out pressuring hard an moving the puck well but it was the Sting who would score. Ayman Soufan returning to the lineup after a lengthy absence walked in and rifled a high wrister that beat the outstretched glove of the Wolves goalie. JJ Fogarty and Will Hull would collect assists on Soufan's marker...which proved to be the game winner. Waterloo would score twice more but could not get the equalizer as the Sting defended well in the final minute thwarting any comeback attempts from the Wolves. Joe Malinowski faced 37 shots in the Lambton net and was solid all night. Jaden Arnold was an AP player up this game and played well in all areas of the ice.
Sunday saw the Sting travel down the 401 in the opposite direction to square off with Windsor for the first time this season. Windsor is a big, fast skating, puck moving team that has solid goaltending. The Sting had a tough task ahead of them especially playing short with 4 regulars out of the lineup. AP player Jaden Arnold once again answered the call for help and showed his dedication to the game and AP'd with the u18 squad again.
Windsor got on the board first in the first period and took a 1-0 lead into the break. Lambton had numerous powerplay chances and good puck possession time but could not get one passed the Windsor Goalie Daniel Piccolo. The game would remain 1-0 til midway through the third period when Windsor would strike again making it 2-0. Lambton pulled goalie John Chartrand in the final minute in an attempt to score but were denied. The Sting lost 2-0.
John Chartrand was outstanding in the Sting net and faced 56 shots in the game. Many saves were point blank and post to post goal savers. Chartrand was definitely the star of the game today as the outcome could have been way higher.
The Sting now prepare for a Tuesday night game in Komoka vs Elgin and then head into a much needed weekend off to rest and let the body recover from a busy couple months of hockey.