LAKERS DROP THIRD GAME IN A ROW

By Anna Taylor
Photo Credit: Anna Taylor

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are looking for answers after a third consecutive loss on Thursday night, falling 9-8 to the Cobourg Kodiaks. The third-place Lakers’ record falls to 7-4 and they’ve won only two of five home games. Meanwhile, fourth place Cobourg closes the gap between the teams to just four points.

This was only the third time the Kodiaks have beaten the Lakers (the others were in 2017 and 2019). All three of their wins have come on Lakers turf.

 “It’s a tough time for us. Our best players were not our best players tonight. We need to stick to our roles,” said head coach Mike Hasen. “The guy are frustrated. They’re disappointed. We’re searching for answers within ourselves.”

Peterborough led 2-0 halfway through the first period, but Cobourg scored three late goals for the lead after the opening frame. They led 4-2 when Taite Cattoni’s second goal of the game finally broke a 20 minute-plus scoring drought. Ten seconds after Trent University grad Curtis Romanchych made it 6-3 Kodiaks on a fast-break goal, Thomas Hoggarth got a pass from Jake Withers off the faceoff and got one back. David Anderson replied for Cobourg but the Lakers took advantage of a shorthanded fast break with Withers finding Matt Gilray with the long pass.

Cattoni scored his third just 45 second into the third, on the same shorthanded opportunity. Hoggarth tied the game 7-7 5:35 into the period. Though it felt like the Lakers had turned a corner, it was Cobourg who scored the next two goals. Alex Marinier put in a shot from the right side and then Jake Harrington’s game winner came on a shorthanded crease dive. Cattoni added a highlight-reel marker to end the night, picking up a rebound and shooting from nearly behind the goal line, but the Lakers couldn’t find another equalizer.

“We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and come back focused and ready to… commit to each other, trust each other and play our best because there are no easy games in this league,” Hasen said. “We have to consistently take that next step. We took steps on Tuesday, and tonight there were good moments, but overall we took a step back.”

Jackson Brown made 44 saves for Cobourg, while Drew Hutchison suffered the loss for Peterborough with 33 saves.  

The Lakers are off for the week, which Hasen said can only help.

“The guys need to step away a little bit and take a personal account, and come back fresh and excited and ready to play.”

On a happier note, the Lakers wore special Canada-themed jerseys that were auctioned off at the game in support of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. Over $4,000 was raised through both a silent auction during the game and live auction after the game. Holden Cattoni’s game-won jersey fetched the highest winning bid at $700.

The Lakers return to the Memorial Centre next Thursday, July 3 for Country Night. Wear your best cowboy hats and boots and get in the country spirit! Tickets for that game are now on sale at the Grant Thornton Box Office.