Mar 15, 2013 | Vmighton | 799 views
Exhibition play continues for PeeWee's
The SML PeeWee Lightning have several exhibition games set up to help prepare them for Provincials in April. The first of these games was on Feb 23, vs the Mississauga Chiefs.
The Lightning came out a bit flat for this game, after playing so hard with London, they seemed to be out of sorts for much of the game, ending with a 1 -1 tie. Jennelle Smeltzer, assisted by Jamey Cunningham and Kelsey Mighton put SML on the board with 34 seconds left in the first. Mississauga would tie it up with just 52 seconds left in the game, stealing the extra point from the PeeWee's.
The following day saw the Lightning face off for an early morning start of a double header with the Barrie Sharks. Game 1 being at 9:30 am at the Nottawasaga Arena meant many of the team had a very early start! This didn't seem to phase the girls, as they came out hard and earned a 3 - 1 win. Jaymee Nolan started things off with a goal at the 8:30 point of the 1st period, assisted by Megan Wilton. Barrie would tie it up just 2 minutes later, and would finish the period in a 1 - 1 deadlock. Jamey Cunningham would get the go ahead marker on a pass from Madison Beishuizen at the mid point of the 2nd period, and Jaymee Nolan would get her 2nd of the game at 2:18 of the 3rd to seal the win for the Lightning. Mattie Shipp would get the assist on Nolan's second goal.
Game 2 of the double header would see a repeat in the score, with Saugeen Maitland winning again, 3 - 1. Leah Herrfort would start things off at 5:31 of the 1st with an awesome shot from the point, with Madison Beishuizen picking up the assist. Jennelle Smeltzer would add one of her own, unassisted in the dying seconds of the first period, to go up 2 - 0. Megan Wilton gets the insurance marker at 2:58 of the 3rd, with Beishuizen getting another assist before Barrie would finally get one past Julia Beaven to ruin the shut out. Excellent play once again from Beaven, as well as lots of great puck movement and passing by our entire defensive squad.
On Mar 3/13, the SML PeeWee Lightning travelled to the Hershey Centre to square off against the Mississauga Chiefs once again. Lord Stanley was in the building, but didn't cause either team to lose their cool in the hunt for "Hockey's Holy Grail". Emma Swift would start things off on an unassisted shot at 10:22 of the 1st period, but the Chiefs would tie it up with just 13 seconds left in the 1st. Kelsey Mighton would put the Lightning ahead once again, off a Jamey Cunningham pass, but once again, the Mississauga team would not back down, tying the game again at 8:06 of the 2nd. Jennelle Smeltzer would give the Lightning the lead once again at the mid point of the 3rd, with Madison Beishuizen picking up the assist, but in the dying seconds of the game on a controversial goal with the net off and the buzzer ringing, the chiefs once again tied things up.
Many of the team stayed for a visit and picture with Lord Stanley himself, and enjoyed autograph sessions with Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni, Gary Leeman.
The Lightning will enjoy a break in play over the March Break, to allow the team to rest, re-coup and enjoy time with family and friends before finishing off with a flurry of double headers and of course, Provincials. Next game for the PeeWee's is in Waterloo on March 17 at 5:30 at the Waterloo Memorial Rec Centre.
Go Lightning Go!