Jr. B Lions have tough month

 

As they head into the new year, the Morrisburg Junior B Lions will be playing hard for a win in their remaining 11 games.

To date the Lions have just six wins against 24 losses. Their last win was on Sunday, November 16 against the Char-Lan Rebels.

December was an extremely tough month as the Lions were unable to put a mark in the win column and chalked up eight consecutive losses.

The final three were 5-0 to the visiting Westport Rideaus on Sunday, December 23, 6-3 to the Glens in Alexandria on Friday, December 28, and 2-1 to the Akwesasne Wolves on Cornwall Island on Saturday, December 29.

On Sunday afternoon, December 23 in Morrisburg, the Lions held the Rideau Division’s third place Rideaus to a scoreless first period.

The second period was the Lions undoing as the Rideaus nabbed goaltender John Gilmer for four counters which would not be answered.

The Rideaus goals were scored by Peter McGahey, Ryan Ward, Connor Merkley, Collin Tye and Caleb Rice.

The Rideaus had just three minor penalties and a game misconduct, while the Lions sat out seven minors, a five minute fighting major, a misconduct and a game misconduct.

Spencer Emery was in net for the Rideaus win.

On Friday night, December 28  the Lions jumped onto the Alexandria scoreboard with a first period, power-play goal by Sylvester Bzdyl assisted by Steven Savage and Chris Rutley.

They held onto their lead against the St. Lawrence Division’s fifth place Glens until 6:38 of the second period when the Glens got it rolling for three in a row.

At 6:38 the Glens, Bradley Massia tied it and at 13:38 TJ Burns gave them the lead. With just 1:50 left on the clock, and the Lions on their power play, the Glens Ryan Dunbar took possession of the puck to score, with his team short-handed, for a 3-1 lead.

The Lions power play, did recover, however, and just four seconds later Grant Cooper scored unassisted to get one back and keep the Glens to a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.

Just over six minutes into the third period, Steven Savage scored for the Lions unassisted to even the playing field at three.

But the Glens came charging back with two counters for a 5-3 edge which they maintained until the final minute of play when they popped their sixth goal into the empty Lions net.

Brett Ayers was in net for the Glens win, while John Gilmer handled the Lions loss.

With Lions veteran goaltender, Mikael Dion serving a match suspension, Joey Lamarch has been providing the backup on the Lions bench.

The Lions out shot the Glens 44-26 and scored two of their goals on their power play. The Glens were assessed just five minor penalties and the Lions only two.

The Lions played their last game of 2012, on the road where they lost a close one to the Akwesasne Wolves, 2-1.

The Lions were first on the scoreboard with a Sylvester Bzdyl counter in the last minute of the first period. Michael Paquette and Chris Rutley provided the assists.

In the second period, neither Wolves goaltender Corey Garrow, nor the Lions John Gilmer could be beat, and the Lions held on to their one goal lead until well into the third.

At 6:07 of the final frame, the Wolves Oakley Thomas evened it with help from Vance Thompson and Dominick Coyle.

At 15:01, Thomas helped himself to seconds for what turned out to be the winner.

Again the Lions out shot their opponents 41-33. They were unsuccessful in 10 power-play opportunities while the Wolves were unsuccessful during their eight power-plays.

The Wolves were assessed 12 minor penalties and two misconducts while the Lions also sat out 12 minors and one misconduct.

Coming up this Saturday, January 5 is the annual Rideau-St. Lawrence Conference Showcase at the Gananoque Recreation Centre.

The Lions and the Westport Rideaus will open the action at 9:30 a.m. At noon it is Alexandria versus the Athens Aeros and at 2:30 p.m. the Casselman Vikings will take on the Gananoque Islanders. The 5 p.m. game will see Akwesasne and Brockville on the ice, while the Char-Lan Rebels and South Grenville will tangle at 7:30 p.m.

This Sunday, January 6, the Winchester Hawks will play their final game in Morrisburg this season. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

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