Lincs bounce back against Perth County foes after cratering in LaSalle
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
By Spencer Seymour
The inconsistency and complacency plaguing the St. Marys Lincolns reached a tipping point after losing to the LaSalle Vipers on Feb. 25, prompting the Lincolns to finally get back on track in back-to-back games against the Stratford Warriors on Feb. 27 and the Listowel Cyclones on Feb. 28.
A second period that could generously be called decent was preceded and succeeded by pitiful first and third periods, resulting in the Vipers taking the 4-1 victory. Head coach Jeff Bradley offered no sugar-coating of his squad’s performance in LaSalle.
“I thought we were horrible,” said Bradley. “I didn’t think we were very good at all. We had no focus. We weren’t prepared for the game. It looked like we went out there to skate around and play some hockey with our buddies, and we paid for it. It all comes down to us. It comes to our players not focusing on what they need to do.”
On top of the struggles with their play, the Lincolns added yet another body to their injured reserve list with captain Chase MacQueen-Spence exiting the game in the second after a hit into the boards by Shawn Costello. MacQueen-Spence attempted to return to the game at the start of the third but only played one shift before leaving the game.
Likewise, after playing in LaSalle, defenceman Camden Kean was unable to play against Stratford and Listowel due to injury. MacQueen-Spence and Kean joined Declan Ready, Oliver Lacko and James MacGregor on the shelf.
However, Bradley is not allowing the rash of injuries to become an excuse.
“Nobody feels bad for us,” Bradley said. “Points are points, whether you have your entire roster or not, and the rest of the players that are dressed, we’re grateful to Pat for providing those players to us because those players we do have are good enough to win a hockey game, but they didn’t do it (in LaSalle).”
Lincs all but lock in top-three spot with 3-1 win over Warriors
Against a Stratford Warriors squad that had a chance to tie the Lincolns for third in the west, the Lincolns finally got back to playing closer to the top of their game with a performance that Bradley was very pleased with.
“We had gone through a few weeks of just sleepwalking while we were playing and forgot what we were, so to try to get back to our best, that’s the goal, and I thought, considering the injuries and considering the time of the year, I thought it was a really good game for us. Our guys were ready to play. I think they had a proper warm-up. We just have to be ready. We can’t think we’re going to go on the ice and compete against these teams we’re playing if we aren’t focused and aren’t prepared to play.”
The Lincolns got the jump on the Warriors on the opening shift with several big hits in the first minute, including one by Jakob Drobny just seconds into the game. Bradley praised the five-man unit that started, setting the stage for the rest of the game.
“That’s who we want to be,” Bradley said. “We’re not sure that’s who we are, but I know that’s who we want to be. Jakob (Drobny), Owen (Kalp), Devun (Colebrook), Lincoln (Moore) and Callum (McAuley) started the game for us and set the tone, and the other guys followed after that. I really think our whole team was fantastic.”
Despite controlling much of the first frame, the Warriors opened the scoring with a point shot by Drew Hodge deflecting off some traffic in front and bouncing under the pad of Colby Booth-Housego, who was otherwise perfect, making 22 saves and eventually earning player of the game honours.
The Lincolns continued to go unrewarded for their strong pressure until, with less than 12 seconds left in the second, Owen Voortman one-timed the puck over the arm of Warriors’ netminder Noah Bender. In the third, Devun Colebrook made a beautiful move to bury a goal just five seconds into a St. Marys powerplay. Moore added an insurance marker with under two and a half minutes left in regulation.
Lincs score second straight win over Cyclones
Just 24 hours later, the depleted Lincolns delivered another solid showing against a Perth County rival, downing Listowel by a score of 5-3.
“I thought we played well for the most part,” Bradley told the Independent. “I thought the first goal against was really unlucky, and the second goal against was a little bit unlucky as well. I think we responded every time we needed to respond, and we can’t afford to take our foot off the gas, not for the points but for where we want to get to between the ears, and I thought we did a pretty good job of that.”
The line of Colebrook, Moore and McAuley delivered an especially strong showing, which Bradley noted is what the team needs from them.
“They need to be leaders for us because they play a lot, and if they want to continue to eat those minutes, then they’re going to have to continue to contribute like that. A guy like Callum (McAuley); I don’t even talk to him that much because there’s nothing to really correct. He’s just a fantastic player.”
After going up 2-0 in the first period with goals by Colebrook and Voortman, the Cylclones got a pair of fortunate bounces to tie the game at two apiece. However, Moore fired a go-ahead goal before the end of the opening stanza.
Keaton Middleton fired the only goal of the second to tie the game at three apiece.
In the third, affiliate player Hudsyn Chaput one-timed a feed from McAuley past Cyclones’ goalie Jack Bree for his first Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) goal, which held up as the eventual game-winner. Blake Elzinga added an insurance marker, while Brogan Colquhoun picked up the 28-save win between the pipes.
The five injuries have resulted in the Lincolns calling up blueliner Tyson Cartier as well as forwards Hudsyn and Maddyx Chaput, who Bradley credited for their contributions and level-headed play amidst a challenging moment to step into.
“It’s great for Hudsyn, and (Cartier, Hudsyn and Maddyx Chaput) understand what this experience is and that we’re injured right now, and they’re trying to soak up some junior experience. I think it’s valuable because they’re coming in at a time when it’s a trying time. They’re not coming into a team that’s coasting right now. They’re learning and being put under a little bit of pressure to perform.
“They’re experiencing practices that maybe aren’t as fun as what they might have imagined junior hockey would be, but I think that’s good character building and good experience building for them,” Bradley continued. “When they go into their first year of junior hockey next year, there won’t be as much of a learning curve.”
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