Preseason equals perfection for Lakers Hockey
The Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team capped off a perfect 4-0 preseason record last weekend to head into the regular season with a bit of a swagger. Here’s what North Bay Nugget reporter Jordan Ercit filed after the last game.
Lakers wrap up perfect preseason
By Jordan Ercit, North Bay NuggetBring on the regular season.
The Nipissing Lakers wrapped up a perfect OUA men's hockey preseason Saturday, holding off a spirited Windsor Lancers attempted comeback for a 3-2 win in front of less than 1,000 fans at Memorial Gardens.
Doug Clarkson scored a goal for the fourth straight game, and his fifth overall, to open the scoring for Nipissing on the penalty kill before Sam Hopewell and Lucas McKinley followed with quick-hit goals, forcing the Lancers to call a timeout early in the first period — the second straight night that's happened to a Lakers' opponent.
Derek Lanoue scored twice for the Lancers, including a nice move to the forehand with 1:59 left in regulation after corralling a rebound off the end boards and lifting a shot over Billy Stone, who split time in the Nipissing net with Dan Spence.
It was a hard-fought, physical game against the abrasive Lancers, who made the Lakers pay for the puck on every shift after the early 3-0 lead, something the team needed before the Oct. 1 regular-season opener against the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
The Lakers last two games — 7-2 and 8-4 wins over York and UOIT respectively — lacked regular-season intensity and deteriorated into glorified shinny by the end of the match.
"That was a good challenge and good for our last exhibition game heading into the season," Lakers head coach Mike McParland said. "We needed something like that, to push right to the end."
McParland switched up his lines Saturday, giving forwards Dan Watt, Marcus Watson, Matt Paton, Scott Restoule and Brogan Bailey, defence men Brodie Beard and Jordan Gallea and goaltender Kyle Cantlon the night off.
Forwards Jacob Verheyden, Dane Horvat, Nick Huard, Hopewell, Chad McQuaid, defence men Jason Gray and Josh McKinnon and goalie Stone took their place in the lineup with McParland still needing to trim the roster down to 23 skaters before Oct. 1.
That doesn't include forward Grant McGee, who last weekend suffered a displaced break in his ankle in the Lakers' first exhibition game against the Carleton Ravens.
And Saturday, McParland may have lost another returning player when third-year defenceman Josh McKinnon was tripped while skating toward the end boards in the third period.
McParland said he didn't want to speculate before X-rays were taken on McKinnon's leg, "but his foot injury could be serious."
Other issues facing McParland this week include figuring out who to slot into the top line with Andrew Marcoux and Watt, who combined to score 32 of the Lakers' 99 goals in 2010-11 alongside departed playmaker Ryan Maunu.
McParland tried pencilling in former York Lion and NOJHL standout Scott Restoule Friday against UOIT, but wasn't particularly impressed with the combo despite a pair of even-strength goals.
On Saturday, Marcoux played with Verheyden and Kevin Rebelo, who filled in for an injured Maunu on the top line in last season's playoff series against the McGill Redmen. The trio were able to generate some chances, including a goal that was called off because of a high stick, but were otherwise held off the scoresheet.
"Naturally, with Maunu gone, those are big shoes to fill," McParland said Friday of the Sault Ste. Marie native and graduated centreman, who had 51 assists in 55 games over two seasons with Nipissing. "But Maunu's not here anymore and we have to adapt and we have to adjust."
One line that should remain intact by Friday is the combination of Clarkson, Dorian Peca and Conor O'Donnell. The three were able to create offence early on for the second straight game, including a pair of shorthanded breakaways for Clarkson.
"I love playing with (Peca) and I love playing with (O'Donnell)," said Clarkson, who has history with both players in the OJHL — Clarkson and Peca were line mates with the Vaughan Vipers in 2008-09 while Clarkson and O'Donnell were teammates on the Brampton Capitals.
"We're all in the right spot at the right time and know where to go in certain situations . . . The chemistry's there. You don't even think about (how to play together) when you're out there, you just go."