Night of Celebration in Whitby, Redmen Defeat Kodiaks 18-4
By Mark Stehlin
A full day of action dubbed "Lacrosse Day in Durham " culminated in the main event Saturday night. The Redmen arranged a a pre-game celebration to honour Shawn Williams and gave him an early Father's Day gift as he took to the floor with his son Dyson (the way he and his father Greg did so many years ago in the same rink). Father and son brought the boisterous crowd to their feet as # 51 scored the opening goal just 0:10 seconds in and young Dyson (who played earlier in the day with his Whitby Warriors) scored on a penalty shot after the Kodiaks released a player early on a Redmen offensive rush. Dan Lintner scored two of his five in total and Ryan MacSpadyen added one for a 5-1 lead for the Redmen after the first.
It was a tough night for the Kodiaks as the Redmen scored three unanswered in a 1:30 span to open the second and chased Rayce Vigneaux from the net, they went on to register five more in that frame compared to a pair for the Kodiaks for a 13-3 lead after forty minutes. The temperature outside was high and it was no different inside Iroquois Park, tempers eventually boiled over as the teams engaged in some "shenanigans" at 7:23 of that period. Officials Andrew Ecclestone and Matt Garrison handed out 44 minutes in penalties, including two game misconducts, to three players from each side in that one skirmish.
Young Dyson Williams continued to show his promise as he netted two more in the third and the Redmen cruised to the 18-4 win for a record of 4-3 on the season. Dyson Williams notched an impressive four goals in the game, five for Lintner, two each for O'Connor and Whitlow with singles to Williams, Hopcroft, Keenan and Murphy. Meanwhile, in the Redmen net goalie Zach Higgins, when he was tested, made some solid saves and performed well for the home side.
The Redmen travel to Six Nations on Tuesday night and host the Brampton Excelsiors on Wednesday which marks the mid-point of the regular season.