Essex 73’s earn early season revenge
by Garrett Fodor
The Essex 73’s searned some early revenge against their rivals, the Lakeshore Canadiens.
Last Tuesday marked Essex’s first time playing the Canadiens since being eliminated in last year’s Stobbs final. The game also had former Leamington Flyers teammates facing off against each other for the first time. Andrew Thoms skated for Lakeshore, while Josh Pope-Ferguson joined Tuesday’s starting goalie, Connor Meyerink.
Fans were treated to a thrilling affair between the rivals, with the first goal coming in the second period. It was Lakeshore rookie Eric LaRue who opened the scoring as he snuck a puck through Connor Meyerink’s pads. Two minutes later, 73’s defenceman, Sylvano Valente, got involved on a rush to put one by Lakeshore goalie, Nolan Hakr. To close out the frame, Lakeshore’s LaRue netted his second goal of the night. Despite the score, Essex out-shot Lakeshore, 31-13, after 40 minutes of play.
The lone goal of the third period came from 73’s over-age defenceman, Matt Zelko, who hopped in on a rush and beat Hakr on his blocker-side for the short-handed tally, which extend the game into overtime.
In the extra frame, the teams were quick to show their speed. Each exchanged chances off the rush. In the last minute, 73’s Dallas Anderson was able to use his speed with Pope-Ferguson to create an odd-man rush. Anderson tucked the puck in the open-side of the net to give Essex the 3-2 win.
Essex will host Petrolia for its third-straight home game on Tuesday, September 25, before its first road game, which will take place on September 28 against Dresden.