Redmen Draw First Blood as Semi Finals Get Underway in Peterborough

The Peterborough Lakers (17-1) hosted the Brooklin Redmen (7-9-2) tonight at the Memorial Centre in the opening game of their best four of seven semi final series. The Lakers defeated the Redmen in all four of their regular season meetings, but fans know the playoffs are a new season. The visitors knew before the series started that it would be vital for them to register a win at the Memorial Centre. The Redmen started strong with a goal just 0:20 in to the game and never gave up the lead en route to an 11-10 win a 1-0 series lead.

Two defenders started the scoring for the Redmen, Kyle Rubisch scored as fans were still filing in to the building and that was followed by Matt Hossack. The Redmen took the opening frame by a score of 5-2.

The visitors stretched the lead by two more goals with six minutes gone in the middle frame, both teams went on three goal runs in that period and it was 10-6 for the Redmen after forty minutes. 

The Lakers changed goalies as Head Coach Mike Hasen elected to swap starter Evan Kirk (who earlier today was traded from New England to Saskatchewan in the NLL, a move that included Redmen John Lafontaine and ex-Redmen goalie Aaron Bold who go to New England) for Matt Vinc after the Redmen opened the lead to 7-2. 

The third period belonged to the Lakers who struck twice early to make it 10-8, Reilly O'Connor got his lone goal of the night and the Lakers scored twice more to get to 11-10 with under three minutes to go but could get no closer as Mike Poulin shut the door in the Redmen net.

The teams will have no rest as they are on the floor in less than 24 hours at Iroquois Park for game two. The Redmen have organized a tailgate party with Brock St Brewery, music by Two for the Show and food from Bollock's Pub and Kitchen to kick off at 6:30 p.m.

Besides Rubisch, Hossack and O'Connor other goal scorers for the Redmen were Curtis Knight and Ryan Keenan with two each and singles to Colton Watkinson, Josh Johnson, Dan Lintner and Austin Shanks. 

In the other series, Wesley Berg scored in overtime to give the Oakville Rock an 8-7 win over Six Nations to go up 1-0 in that series.