Lakers drop weekend home games

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer

The Lomond Lakers, who play their home games at the Claresholm Arena, had a tough weekend at home in Heritage Junior “B” Hockey League action.

The Lakers hosted the Okotoks Bisons on Friday night, Nov. 16, losing by a score of 6-3.

The score could have been far worse if not for the heroics of Laker goaltender Brady Newton who stopped 72 out of 78 shots that came his way.

Incredibly, Lomond led 1-0 after the first period on a goal by Ryan Leeper, set up by Bailey Daychief and Claresholm’s Gavin Burns.

Okotoks outshot Lomond in that opening 20 minutes by a margin of 26-2.

The Bisons finally solved Newton in the second period, with five goals in less than five minutes to lead 5-1 after two periods. They outshot Lomond 54-3 after 40 minutes.

The Lakers came alive in the third period though, as Adam Stafford scored from Chase Honess, to close the gap to 5-2.

After Okotoks re-established a four-goal lead, Aaron Areshenko was set up by Claresholm’s Clayton Billyard to make the final score 6-3.

The Lakers were back on home ice the next night, Nov. 17, where they lost to Strathmore by a score of 6-4.

Lomond led 2-1 after the first period, and the teams were tied 3-3 after two periods before the Wheatland Kings won it with three goals in the third period.

Scoring for Lomond were Tyler Rohl, unassisted; Will Kathol, assisted by Billyard and Claresholm’s Charles Florence; Daychief, assisted by Kaidin Hodgson; and Damion Keller, assisted by Hodgson.

Goaltender Theo Paskuski stopped 42 of 48 shots in the loss.

Lomond wrapped up their weekend homestand on Sunday, Nov. 18, with a 3-1 loss to the Red Deer Vipers.

The teams were scoreless after 20 minutes, and Red Deer led 1-0 after two periods.

Scoring Lomond’s goal was Billyard, assisted by Daychief and Kyle Fry.

Newton stopped 45 of 47 shots. The third goal was scored into an empty net after Lomond pulled their goalie for an extra attacker to try and tie the game.