Jeff Nolfo of the Wallaceburg Lakers - Photo from CKSN.ca

The Wallaceburg Lakers sent four representatives to the annual Great Lakes Junior C All-Star game. Troy Babcock, Jeff Nolfo, Jordan Durston, and Scott Lubbers represented the Lakers.

Overage players were not eligible to participate, and all 16-year-olds in the league were automatically selected.

In the game, the Lakers helped the North Division slip by the South 9-8.

Babcock, Nolfo, and Durston each registered an assist in the win for the North Division.

Nolfo, a Michigan resident, is the leading scorer among the four Wallaceburg Lakers to attending sitting in the top 20 in league scoring with 17 goals and 18 assists in only 27 games thus far with the Lakers this season.

Wallaceburg is sitting in the 8th and final playoff spot in the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League.

Lucais Meyskens potted two goals and added two assists for the Wallaceburg Lakers as they snapped their longest losing streak of the season, defeating the Belle River Canadiens 4-2.

After getting out to a 3-0 lead early in the game, Wallaceburg allowed the Canadiens back into the game, as Belle River closed the gap to 3-2 late in the third period, before Meyskens put the game on ice to snap Wallaceburg’s 8 game losing streak.

Scott Lubbers opened the scoring for the Lakers, a goal which was originally credited to Justin Whitson, who picked up an assist on the play. Meyskens then scored to increase Wallaceburg’s lead to 2-0 after one period.

In the second, Joe Allison scored from Lubbers and Meyskens, before Belle River got on the board on a Donnovan Plummer goal.

Entering the third period still up 3-1, Belle River began to show life with Branden Larocque getting one by Wallaceburg goaltender Devin Cove.

Meyskens would score, followed only 10 seconds later by a Keith Maisonville tally for the Belle River Canadiens. Maisonville is a former captain of the Chatham Maroons.

Devin Cove would shut the door in the final seconds holding onto the 4-3 win as the final buzzer sounded.

For many on the Wallaceburg Lakers roster, tonigh’s game held extra meaning as it was the anniversary of Tristan Carswell’s death. Carswell was a member of the Wallaceburg Lakers who passed away midseason.

Wallaceburg is now off until January 4 when they welcome the Mooretown Flags to town.

The first half of the Great Lakes Junior C season has come and gone, with several surprises thus far. Here is a look at the four Chatham-Kent Great Lakes Junior C teams, the Dresden Kings, Blenheim Blades, Wheatley Sharks, and Wallaceubrg Lakers.

Wallaceburg Lakers (Record – 7-14-1)

After losing roughly half their roster from last year’s regular season champion team to either Junior B or overage, it is no surprise the Wallaceburg Lakers are sitting second from the bottom of the Great Lakes Junior C standings. With holdovers Tyson Isaac and Norm Leger doing most of the scoring, the addition of American born players Jeff Nolfo, Justin Whitson, and Kyle Jacobson has been a shot in the arm for this club. With recent suspensions to key contributors Tyson Isaac and Jordan Durston however, a pre-Christmas slump could be in the works. As well, starting the season with a firm grip on a playoff position, things are starting to look less clear as the once winless Kingsville Comets are now surging up the standings. Player to Watch: Jordan Belanger: Recently returned from the Lambton Shores Predators, Belanger can provide speed up front, and the veteran guidance this club needs. Outlook: 8th overall, first round playoff exit.

Dresden Kings (Record – 8-12-2)

Although they have struggled recently, the Kings might still be a team to watch approaching the playoffs, and could be a team that suprises a top contender in the first round of the playoffs. Brennan Rainey has been a welcomed scoring presence for the Kings, however they need more consistency. The recent additions of former Chatham Maroons player Jesse Allen, and veteran defender Jim Rouse, who returns for one more kick at the can with the Kings, has helped. The Kings will need more from veteran Josh Beatty who is on pace for his worst scoring output with the Kings, notching only 5 goals through the first half of the season. Player to Watch: Jesse Allen – Since returning to the Kings, Allen has scored more than a point per game, however, will he be able to stay out of the box? If Allen can remain disciplined, he can be one of the more dominant players in the North Division. Outlook: 7th overall, could upset Belle River or another first round playoff opponent.

Blenheim Blades (Record – 12-9-1)

While it should be no surprise, many are still doubting the strong start of the Blenheim Blades. The only thing holding the Blades back from being a contender is consistency. The Blades have streaked at various points this season losing multiple games in a row, before rebounding to win multiple games. A veteran heavy lineup will undoubtedly help the Blades, but this roster has not scene a winning season, and lacks the experience of winning in the playoffs. Thomas Innes, Ben Campbell, and Taylor Phillips give the Blades an elite front end, and the early season return of Matt Speed from the Chatham Maroons has helped the Blenheim Blades blueline which lacked a true puck moving defenseman. Player to Watch: Dylan Vanderpol – It might be a lot of pressure, but the Blades season hopes rest with top goaltender Dylan Vanderpol. When Vanderpol is in net, the Blades are a tough team to beat. Watch for the Blades to ride their number one netminder down the stretch. Outlook: 4th overall, and a tough first round matchup which the Blades will win, sending them to the second round for the first time in years.

Wheatley Sharks (Record – 12-9-1)

Has the first half been a final hangover? If nothing, the Wheatley Sharks know what it takes to go deep into the playoffs and the return of big man Josh Tremblay and addition of Brendon Anger from Blenheim have helped solidify their roster. The question remains however, can the Wheatley Sharks duplicate a late season run that saw them eliminate the Wallaceburg Lakers and take the Belle River Canadiens to a seventh game in the Great Lakes finals? Last season the Wheatley Sharks found their legs after Christmas, something that is not out of the question again this season. Player to Watch: Kurtis Ouellette – The reigning Great Lakes defenseman of the year has been solid for the Sharks, but will need to log big minutes for the Sharks in front of netminder to keep the Sharks as the least scored against team in the league. Outlook: 5th overall. If the Sharks can finish with home ice advantage, where they are 9-1-1 this season, anything is possible, including a return to the Great Lakes final. If not, their poor play on the road could spell an early exit.

Continue to watch WallaceburgLakers.com for more updates about the team.

The Wallaceburg Lakers closed the gap in the Great Lakes Junior C North Division by downing the Alvinston Flyers at home Wednesday night. Winning 6-5 in a shootout, the Lakers pulled within two points of rival Dresden Kings.

Jeff Nolfo, a first year Wallaceburg Lakers player from St. Clair Shores, Michigan, opened the scoring for the hometown team midway through the first period on the powerplay. Nolfo was set up by Wallaceburg veterans Norm Leger and Tyson Isaac.

Only 14-seconds later, Dustin Cope added another for the Lakers, this time assisted by Chris Taylor and Mike Myers.

The second period opened with a scoring flurry from the Alvinston Flyers, who scored 3 unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead before Wallaceburg was able to get back on the board. The trio of Jeff Nolfo, Tyson Isaac, and Norm Leger continued to rack up points, with Leger and Isaac scoring for Wallaceburg. Each goal was assisted on by the remaining two linemates.

Before the second period closed however, Alvinston knotted the score at 4-4 on a goal by Brandon Burr. As the third got underway, the teams traded goals with Nolfo scoring again for Wallaceburg, sending the game to a shootout tied 5-5.

In the shootout, each of Wallaceburg’s shooters, Nolfo, Leger, and Isaac scored to give Wallaceburg the 6-5 win.

It seems whenever Norm Leger is in the lineup, good things happen for the Wallaceburg Lakers. In an 8-5 win earlier this month against Kingsville, Leger had 5-points. Two days later against Dresden, Leger had 4-points in an 8-6 win. Leger continued the trend of hot performances leading to Wallaceburg wins last night as the Lakers shutout the Wheatley Sharks 3-0 with scoring a goal and adding 2 assists.

Leger opened the scoring late in the first period for Wallaceburg with assists going to Shawn Lubbers and Tyson Isaac.

In the second period, newcomer Kyle Jacobson scored midway through the frame with assists from Leger and Jeff Nolfo. In the third, Tyson Isaac put the game on ice, assisted by Leger and Nolfo.

In only 6 games played this season, Norm Leger has 15 points for the Wallaceburg Lakers, tying him with Tyson Isaac for the team lead. Reid Rankin stopped all 44 shots he faced in the win.

The victory gives Wallaceburg three wins in their last five games, and erases the Lakers’ weak start to the season as other teams in their division including Dresden and Blenheim continue to struggle.

Wallaceburg travels to Alvinston this Friday to play the Flyers.

After starting the season winless in their first 5 games, the Wallaceburg Lakers seem to be turning the ship around after winning two games in a row, including a 5-2 victory over the Dresden Kings Friday night.

Norm Leger continued his torrid scoring pace for the Wallaceburg Lakers adding two goals and two assists to his season total. Wednesday, in the Lakers first win of the season over the Kingsville Comets, Leger had 5 points for Wallaceburg. Leger now has 9-points in his last two games.

Friday in Dresden, the Kings and Lakers traded goals in the first period with Alex Ritchie opening the scoring for the Dresden, followed by Wallaceburg’s Jeff Nolfo on the powerplay. Cody McPhail returned the favour for Dresden, before Lakers forward Mike Myers evened the score, again on the powerplay.

The second period started all Wallaceburg with Norm Leger scoring twice, and veteran Scott Lubbers adding the other Wallaceburg Lakers goal. Dresden answered back with goals from Dylan Mertz, and McPhail’s second of the game. Lubbers scored again before the period was out to increase Wallaceburg’s lead to 6-4 heading into the third.

The third period of this high scoring affair again resulted in traded goals with Nolfo starting it off for Wallaceburg with his second of the game. Dresden tried to rally as Cam Ross scored a powerplay marker, but Jordan Durston ended any comeback hope only four minutes later scoring Wallaceburg’s 8th goal of the game. Macks Holmes rounded out the scoring for Dresden.

After losing the first two games of the Highway 78 series, Wallaceburg managed to steal one from Dresden on the road 8-6.

Wallaceburg welcomes Alvinston to Memorial Arena this Wednesday, while Dresden waits a full week to host the Wheatley Sharks next Friday in Dresden.

Troy Babcock of the Wallaceburg Lakers – Photo by CKSN.ca

Story provided by CKSN.ca

After starting your first four games winless, many teams might look for knee jerk solutions, but the Wallaceburg Lakers realize they are re-building, and understand there will be growing pains early in the season.

“Right now, a goal for our team is to get better every time we are on the ice,” said Wallaceburg Lakers head coach BJ Charpentier. “I think it’s too early to make any sort of predictions as to how we may finish, we have only played against 3 different teams. As for success, I don’t think it is a goal of ours, but if we continue to work hard and improve, hopefully success will be a result of the work we put in.”

The Wallaceburg Lakers lost four players from last seasons team to overage, and another seven to the Junior B ranks. According to Charpentier however, the new Lakers roster has several hard working, local players, who he feels will learn from this early season slump,

“Having some of the young players from Wallaceburg stepping up to play a bigger role and playing well has been a big positive. Their work ethic and positive attitude has really kept us in games that we maybe shouldn’t have been in early on. Having them experience this early in the season should make us a stronger team later on.”

Of the remaining veterans from last season, two players in the eyes of Charpentier have really stepped up to take new roles that are helping to keep the Lakers competitive.

“Tyson Isaac has been a leader on the team for a couple years now, but he has taken his all around game to another level with some of our other veterans being out of the line up,” Charpentier said.

“And Jordan Durston has been huge for us, switching to D and excelling at it. Having him back there as a leader on our team gives us a whole new element, and we have shown improvement each game, which is what we want early in the season.”

With four losses in their first four games, the Lakers know the season will be an uphill battle, and that their are many places they can improve, but these are challenges this young team are willing to face.

“As a team we have to work on our play in the defensive end, winning battles for lose pucks and giving our offence a chance to do something. And of course, only having played 4 games, we need to continue working on conditioning and and hopefully everything else will fall into place as we move forward.”

Wallaceburg next plays Mooretown tonight (Saturday) on the road, before returning home Wednesday to face the Kingsville Comets.