In front of the biggest crowd in program history – over 4,000 fans – the Nipissing Lakers wrapped up their three game homestand Friday night as part of Jr Lakers Day in North Bay which celebrates the game in conjunction with a major local girls tournament which is taking place this weekend.
The Lakers, coming off two wins over the Queen’s Gaels and three straight overall, welcomed the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks to a rowdy Memorial Gardens.
Special teams led the way for the Lakers, who skated away with a 3-0 shutout victory to earn their fourth victory in a row.
There wasn’t much to report in the opening period in terms of offence, with both teams have a few chances and some pressure throughout.
And despite each team snapping eight shots on net, the first ended all tied up at 0-0.
It took just over half the game for the team’s to find the back of the net and it was the home side that got the crowd going with a goal.
Lakers assistant captain Katie Chomiak fought off a checker, drove the net and made no mistake, snapping a shot shortside.
Chomiak’s fourth of the season came shorthanded and put Nipissing up 1-0.
The Lakers controlled the second, in part thanks to power play chances and as well as leading by a goal, were outshooting the Ridgebacks 25-18.
The Lakers doubled their lead early in the third period, as Abby Lunney buried a power play marker less than five minutes into the period.
The 5-on-3 goal was assisted by Madison Laberge and Malory Domincio.
Nipissing would make it 3-0 with under eight minutes to go as Ashley Taciuk scored a highlight of the night candidate.
After taking a breakaway pass and making a slick move around the defender, she went to the back and shovelled the puck upstairs.
Taciuk’s second of the year capped off the scoring and secured the Lakers win.
Chantelle Sandquist was perfect in net, finishing with 22 saves, while the Lakers fired 36 shots at the Ontario Tech net.
Next up, the Lakers is a pair of games on the road, as they face TMU in Toronto next Friday and Saturday.
