Jan 12, 2012 | Dan Culbert | 934 views
Lombardi and Beechey Lead Team Road Win
Andrew Lombardi fired the hat trick and Ben Beechey recorded the shut out leading the Contractors Rental Supply Midgets to a 6-0 win over the Oakridge Aeros in London on Sunday night. Although the play was as one sided as the score indicated, the game certainly was not without it's moments as some awful use of judgement resulted in an equally dramatically one sided penalty total.
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The 99ers certain had a great opportunity to work on their penalty kill as the one sided parade to the box started just 9 seconds in as Scot Smid was sent off for a quesionable call right off the opening face-off after he stood his man up just inside the blueline. Beechey made a couple of good saves ealry in the PK until the team got their feet under them and from then the London team was unable to sustain any real pressure. Just over a minute after the penalty expired, Lombardi got the 99ers on the board as he slid a rebound into an open net after the Oakridge goalie made the first two saves on a scramble in front. Stefan DeDominicis and Andrew Schunk drew assists on the play. Shortly after this, the CSR team was again put a man down when Schunk was sent off this time for a slash. Beechey made a save on a breakaway after a stretch pass took a London bounce and found a player all alone from the blueline in, but his attempt to go stick side was thwarted. A minute later another call in favour of the home team put the 99ers down 5 on 3 and a third call on the same stoppage extended it even further. The Brantford boys were able to kill off these three penalties and went back on the attack for the last 5 minutes however the period ended 1-0.
The second period was much like the first, with the 99ers scoring early to extend the lead to 2-0 when Jesse Stremler fired one home from the high slot through a traffic jam in front of the Oakridge net with Larry Hill and Dakota Culbert picking up the helpers. Again the tipped ice was evened out as much as could be influenced by the on ice officalls with a series of blown offsides, missed icings, a too many men on the ice, and a spearing call missed, and only Brantford being lead to the box 3 more times. Despite this the 99ers were able to extend their lead when Jacob Ferreira's shot from the point hit a London players stick changing direction and finding it's way past a screened goalie. Mike Gotkowski and Stremler picked up the assists on the play as Brantford went up 3-0.
Lombardi kicked off the third period with a quick shot from the side of the net beating the goalie with DeDominicis again picking up the assist only 34 seconds gone. This was followed again by a Brantford penalty and during the Oakridge PP the same repeat offender again made a dirty play away from the puck this time attacking from behind and breaking his stick across the helmet of a Brantford player. This resulted in a melee with four players being ejected and suspended, and the linesman making the call on the stick infraction which even up the manpower advantage and when the 99ers penalty expired provided them with it's only PP of the game. Although they did not score during the man advantage, the 99ers were able to score twice more before the end of the period, with Gotkowski getting a breakaway and although he ws caulght from behind, he made a nice feed to Brayden Dickenson just as another Brantford penalty expired and the Dickenson returning the favour setting up Lombardi for an empty net to cap the scoring and giving him the hat trick. For the game, Brantford was 10-10 on the penalty kill while Oakrdge killed off thier lone penalty.
This was the first road win for the 99ers and they return home to face the second place St. Thomas Stars on Wed.