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In boys hockey: Falcons fall to Lakers

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The Falcons Henry Delabruere absorbs a hard check from Lakers defender Curtis Lehouiller Saturday night.  Photos by David Dudley
The Falcons Henry Delabruere absorbs a hard check from Lakers defender Curtis Lehouiller Saturday night. Photos by David Dudley

copyright the Chronicle January 28, 2015

by David Dudley

JAY PEAK — The North Country Union High School Falcons fell to the Colchester Lakers Saturday, 6-1. Though the game began as a back and forth battle between two evenly matched teams, the Falcons faced an unfortunate stretch in the second period.

“Before the game, we talked about getting the puck deep and making smart plays,” Lakers Coach Greg Murray said. “We wanted to get an extra deek in. Get the puck in the zone, get shots to the net. Score ugly.”

The Falcons were in striking distance for much of the first period, but they couldn’t find the net. Finally, with four minutes left in the first period, Chad Dupuis scored the Falcons only goal of the game, assisted by Dawson Cote.

The Falcons led 1-0 at that early point in the game, but the Lakers answered quickly, as Mark Gauthier scored off an assist by Jared Rylant.

As the first period expired, the two teams were knotted up 1-1. It was anybody’s game. The second period began much like the first, with both teams battling for control. Alas, the Lakers started piling their players up in front of Falcons keeper Dana Marsh.

Marsh made some good saves, but didn’t realize the puck was still lying in the crease on a number of them. Unfortunately for Marsh, more often than not, the Lakers were lying in wait to put the loose puck back in the net.

With 9:20 remaining in the second period, Rylant scored the Lakers second goal, assisted by Gauthier and Tate Hamblett.

With a 2-1 lead in hand, the Lakers cracked the game wide open.

Sam Corman swooped in and scored a goal, assisted by David Cross to give the Lakers a 3-1 cushion.

Before the cheers had halted from that goal, Hamblett scored the first of his two goals on the evening, assisted by Rylant, giving the Lakers a commanding 4-1 lead.

Hamblett struck again 19 seconds later to give the Lakers a 5-1 edge.

The Lakers slapped four goals into the net within a window of one minute and 35 seconds. Black jerseys swarming the net became an all-too-familiar sight for Marsh, who deflected any number of shots, only to have an audacious Laker slap the puck back into the net.

Falcons goalie Dana Marsh faced a relentless Lakers squad.  In a melee of black jerseys and put-backs, Marsh gave up four goals in a minute and a half in the second period.
Falcons goalie Dana Marsh faced a relentless Lakers squad. In a melee of black jerseys and put-backs, Marsh gave up four goals in a minute and a half in the second period.

Falcons Coach Ryan Jacobs called timeout with 7:45 left in the second period. He pulled Marsh from the game, replacing him with junior Dylan Simoneau.

But it was too little too late for the Falcons. They played their hearts out for the remainder of the game, but they could gain no traction after the Lakers offensive onslaught. Their defense, too, flustered the Falcons for the remainder of the game.

As time went on, the Falcons played with greater frustration and urgency. But they just couldn’t overcome that hefty deficit. Their penalty minutes only made things more challenging, as they spent a number of minutes playing one man short.

With 5:40 left in the third period, the Lakers rounded out their offensive output as Andrew St. Pierre scored off an assist by Gauthier.

The Lakers closed out the game, 6-1.

“We got some nice bounces tonight,” Coach Murray said. “It’s been a long time since we won at North Country. They’re a hard-working team. You can’t take them lightly.”

The Falcons next face Spaulding.

contact David Dudley at [email protected]

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