Photo by Jack Gower
Article by Dylan Baker
This weekend was a high-scoring one for the Komoka Kings, as they hosted the London Nationals and travelled to Waterloo, but unfortunately it was high scoring on both sides of the puck.
London made their first trip to Komoka of the year on Saturday, and they got the scoring started early. William Muszynski gave the Nationals the lead just three minutes and one second in, unassisted. There was back and forth action throughout much of the first, and the Kings were able to answer back, as Kade McGeen kicked off what was a good weekend for him with his first GOJHL goal, at 18:52, from Ryan Daze (first GOJHL point), and Nathan Gaitens.
In the second, there were a combined 35 penalty minutes for both teams, which led lots of time spent on the power play. The Nationals took a 2-1 lead on a seven-minute man advantage at the 3:28 mark, as Anthony Tudino scored his second of the year from Aydan Doyle and Jeremy Hirsh. Doyle got back on the scoresheet just over a minute later, when he scored his second of the season from Jeremy Hirsh and William Muszynski, to make it 3-1. About five minutes later, Jagan Chanderdat threw a puck on net and it bounced its way in, to make it 3-2. Assists on that goal came to Ben Siroen and Seth Huygen. The Nationals would answer back though, just two minutes later, when Austen Pomerleau scored from Jeremy Hirsh and Eddie Hickson to make it 4-2. The Kings were then given a nine minute power play, on which they’d capitalize. Jagan Chanderdat scored his second of the game at 15:48 from Kade McGeen to make it 4-3, then Dylan Lale scored his first in the GOJHL to tie things up, from Ben Siroen and Everett Force. We were deadlocked after two.
In the third, London scored early as Tudino netted his second of the game, from Hirsh again. But Komoka responded less than a minute later, as Ryan Daze scored his first GOJHL goal, from Jagan Chanderdat, to make it 5-5. Jeremy Hirsh would score his first of the year six minutes later, to make it 6-5 London. They would add a late PPG, courtesy of Austen Pomerleau to make it 7-5, and they would win by that score. Nate Gillis made 47 saves in the loss.
It was a quick turnaround for Komoka, as they travelled to Waterloo on Sunday afternoon to play the KW Siskins. The Kings were down several players in that game, and were forced to dress 11 forwards and seven defencemen. The Kings fell behind very early on, when Evan Klein scored from Drake Neal to make it 1-0 Siskins. The Siskins then added onto their lead, when Liam King scored at the 8:23 mark to make it 2-0 KW. About seven minutes after that, Evan Klein scored his second of the game, to give the Siskins a commanding 3-0 lead. The Kings got on the board late in the first period, when Jagan Chanderdat scores his third goal of the weekend to make it 3-1 after one, assisted by Nathan Gaitens and Kyle Dolmage.
In the second, Ty McCutchion scored on the power play just 1:46 into the period, from Evan Klein and Liam King. Three minutes later, Seth Huygen scored from Everett Force and Dylan Lale for the Kings, to make it a two-goal game. Then, two minutes later, Ryan Daze scored his second of the weekend, making it 4-3. Unfortunately for the Kings, Nathaniel Rose scored his first GOJHL goal to make it 5-3 Siskins at the 17:27 mark of the period, which would remain the score after two.
In the third, Evan Klein broke in short handed and completed the hat trick for KW, giving them a 6-3 lead, which would be the final score. Ryan Burroughs made 28 saves in the defeat.
The Kings are back in action for their first crossover weekend of the year, as they travel to Port Colborne on Friday, to take on the Sailors (7:00pm puck drop) and are back at home on Saturday, as they host the Welland Jr. Canadians at 7:15pm at the Wellness Centre!
Top Statistical Performers from the weekend:
Jagan Chanderdat – 2 GP, 3-2-5 (on a two-game point streak)
Ryan Daze – 2 GP, 2-1-3 (on a two-game point streak)
Seth Huygen – 2 GP, 1-2-3 (on a five-game point streak)
Kade McGeen – 2 GP, 1-1-2 (First GOJHL goal)
Dylan Lale – 2 GP, 1-1-2 (First GOJHL goal)
