In the last regular season game of 2016 the Sobeys Lightning hosted the
Wallaceburg Lakers in an unusually late game in Ridgetown. The whole Lightning team seemed pumped and
ready to meet another team close to them in the standings.
Defensive pairing #5 Josh Flemington and #16 Shane Brown guard the front of the net
Before the Lightning could get organized on the ice Wallaceburg would scored just 43 seconds into the game. It became quite apparent that if the Lightning were to prevail they would have to play as a team and not individuals. At the end of the first period neither team could muster more than 3 shots on goal. The second period was much the same as the first. The hard work of #7 Drew Rumble, #9 Owen Brown and #11 Carter Gates continued to force Wallaceburg back to their own end of the rink. The Lightning finely broke through with 2:21 remaining in the second when defenseman #5 Josh Flemington prevented a Wallaceburg clearing attempt. He then moved the puck into the corner where #4 Camden Blackburn quickly relayed it to #3 Vincent Vaughan in the slot. Vincent’s shot caught the top corner of the net to tie the game at one. The game continued to be close going into the third period until Wallaceburg forward #16 Zach Gormloy took an unnecessary tripping penalty at 8:21. It took the Lightning 9 seconds to make them pay and take the lead with a goal from #3 Vincent Vaughan assisted by #8 Brady Pook. Wallaceburg had their own opportunity on the power play at 7:23 of the third when Lightning forward #10 Colin Day was called for deliberate body contact but once again the defensive play of #7 Drew Rumble and #9 Owen Brown helped the Lightning maintain the lead. It was then that Wallaceburg began to push harder and eventually took another penalty, again for tripping. This time it was #10 Ryan Bowen in the box. 1 minute and 3 seconds into the Lightning power play #12 Carson Vancolewart of Wallaceburg sprung past the Lightning D and in all alone beating Lightning Goalie #1 Logan Frazer five-hole and knotting the game at two. With the clock winding down and only seconds remaining Wallaceburg continued to press and out shoot the Lightning 7 to 4 thus far in the period. Lightning defenceman #16 Shane Brown made a last ditch effort to move the puck up ice and into Wallaceburg territory only to have it knocked off his stick. But the loose puck was quickly picked up by Lightning forward #10 Colin Day and he made no mistake chipping the puck pass the Wallaceburg goalie and giving the Lightning the lead with 47 seconds remaining in the game. Even then Wallaceburg never stopped pushing this time pulling their goalie for the extra attacker. Lightning forward #14 Dani Betterly made some unbelievable defensive plays to take away scoring chances and Wallaceburg was only able to get one more shot on goal. Final score: Sobeys Lightning 3, Wallaceburg Lakers 2
Shots on goal: Sobeys Lightning 13, Wallaceburg Lakers 14.