Claiming a gold medal on home turf is a pretty special occurrence and the bantam Lakers did just that on Jan. 15, throttling the Port Alberni Coyotes by a score of 6-1.
The gaping victory was sweet revenge for a Lakers squad who were defeated 5-1 by the same Port Alberni team just a day before. The Lakers boasted an overall 3-1 tournament record by the conclusion of the weekend.
Lakers’ head coach Calvin Convery was relieved his team could pull out a win when it counted the most.
“They really wanted that game, especially after yesterday. There’s not much a coach can do when the team wants it. They have to want it so that was good,” said Convery.
Contrary to a day prior, the Lakers stayed out of the penalty box, moved the puck fluently and forechecked effectively against the Coyotes.
Netminder Justin Fournier was the star of the invitational for Lake Cowichan, backstopping the Lakers to a 3-1 tournament record. Convery noted that Cale Mackie also had a solid weekend.
“They stand out. You have your defence in Justin Fournier and you have your offence with Cale Mackie,” he said.
Mackie scored an impressive six goals in the Lakers round robin match against Powell River.
Fournier was unbelievable not only in the finals, where he nearly turned away everything Port Alberni could throw at him, but throughout the duration of the tournament. Even in the 5-1 thumping the Lakers suffered to Port Alberni in round robin play, Fournier stood tall to ensure not that the Lakers did not sustain a greater loss.
Assisant coach Steve Vatcher was thrilled for his team.
“They played like champions today,” said Vatcher.
Vatcher thought that the Lakers regained the confidence they needed to overcome Port Alberni.
“This was the game they wanted to play and they just went out and played it. They weren’t nervous. We didn’t really have to say anything to them before we went out from the dressing room. They had a great time, you could tell at the end how happy they were,” said the Lakers’ assistant coach.
And happy is what the Lakers were. Following the gold medal win, smiles were contagious throughout the Lakers bench and the arena, as the team ripped apart a replica Stanley Cup that housed ample amounts of candy.
It was quite a different scene 24 hours earlier when the bantam Lakers hung their heads following the walloping Port Alberni dealt them.
“They were quite down on themselves and they knew what the difference was in the game and they went out and corrected it today,” added Vatcher.
Lakers’ right winger Ethan Bottomley thought that scoring the first goal in the finals was key.
“That first goal that Port Alberni scored 16 seconds in yesterday really just killed us and put us going downhill but as soon as we scored that first goal today we were up in high spirits. We knew we could do it,” said Bottomley.
Bottomley said that the on-ice gold medal victory is a memory that will stick with him for some time.
“As soon as the buzzer went we all jumped up and started cheering. We all left the bench and dropped our sticks and gloves and jumped into sort of a dog pile,” said the Lakers forward.
Austin Henry-Maiale was another Lakers player who was excited to wrap a gold medal around his neck.
“It was very nice,” said Maiale.
The bantam Lakers get back to action next weekend during the Minor Hockey Jamboree.
