Outshot, outscored and outplayed.
That was the result of a pair of games for the Amherstburg Admirals as they were blasted twice in back-to-back games by the Lakeshore Canadiens.
The Admirals lost 7-1 last Friday night in Lakeshore and 24 hours later at the Libro Centre, it was the Canadiens winning again, this time 8-3.
“It’s almost like taking 10 steps back. When you play teams at the top of the league, it’s not always about the score, it’s about competing,” said Admirals coach Beau Hunter after Sunday night’s contest.
The loss drops the locals to 8-31-0-0 while the Canadiens improved to 33-4-0-0 and are in a race for the top spot with the Essex 73’s in the eight team West Stobbs Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League.
Saturday the Canadiens came out quick and Trevor Larue scored 52 seconds into the game. He would notch a hat trick in the opening period for the winners.
Layne Crispin had a beauty of a goal, a quick shot over the shoulder of Lakeshore goalie Nicholas Bolton. Amherstburg’s Stefan Jacobs made it close 3-2 after 20 minutes.
“We were not with them in the first. The score was close but they outplayed us all three periods,” said Hunter.
It was all Lakeshore in the middle frame as they outscored the Admirals 4-0 to take a huge 7-2 lead. Braeden Armstrong managed to get one back in the third for the hosts.
Joe Costea started in net for the Admirals but after facing 14 shots in the first period and 18 in the second was relieved by Noah Spadotto. Former Admirals netminder Bolton got the win for the Canadiens. Bolton was named the PJHL West Player of the Month in December.
The night before in Lakeshore, the Canadiens were up 2-0 in the first period and scored five times in the second. Admirals’ rookie Brett Jones scored in the middle period.
“It’s lack of effort. It’s not that, yes, they are a highly skilled team, but we are doing things that put us behind the eight-ball right away,” said Hunter.
The Admirals head coach said it’s a lack of effort, not winning puck battles and not back-checking.
Amherstburg has three games remaining on the 42-game regular season schedule. They travel to Walpole Island Thursday night and host the Wild at the Libro Centre Saturday night with a puck-drop time of 7:30 p.m. They conclude the regular season with a Feb. 24 home game versus Essex.
Asked what his charges have to do to prepare for the playoffs, Hunter replied, “it’s coming to the rink and being ready to put the work in.”
SLAPSHOTS: Admirals veteran goalie Josh Courtney is expected to return this upcoming week and so is blueliner Jadyn Brown. Rookie Dallas Kelly is probably still a couple of weeks before coming back to the lineup… Second-year Stefan Jacobs who was called up to play for the LaSalle Junior ‘B’ Vipers last Wednesday leads the Admirals with 33 points. He has played in all 39 games thus far for Amherstburg.
By Fred Groves
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