Lakeshore hosts West Island AA teams in Kirkland

The game was the second of three consecutive match ups between Lakeshore and West Island’s AA teams at Kirkland arena, a tradition that debuted last year. In Lakeshore President Angelo Palucci’s mind, having the AA teams play back-to-back “gives players the chance to see what it takes to play at the next level.”

Indeed, many players stuck around after their respective games to catch their elders in action, hoping to make the jump in the near future. An early indicator of success is that this year’s Lakeshore Bantam AA squad features five first year players who graduated from Peewee AA, including point-getters Lorber, Kosic and Iapalucci, as well as defensemen Vincent Roy and Beau Rusk.

Lakeshore’s win at the Bantam level came on the heels of a West Island victory in Peewee AA, a 4-2 final. Francis Dechenes, Massimo Luciano, Maxime Fortier and Chris Chaddock scored for the Royals in the win. Goaltender Tyler Piechota was solid between the pipes, especially while weathering the ravenous Lakeshore attack in the third period after Christopher Theodore brought the Panthers within one.

West Island was also victorious in the Midget AA finale, earning their first notch in win column while simultaneously handing the Panthers their first loss of the season. The Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and hung on to come out on top in a 3-2 decision.

For their part, Lakeshore was quick to recover, beating Verdun/Lasalle 4-1 on Sunday to get back on the winning track.

Each local association (Lakeshore, West Island, DDO and Deux Rives), will host each other’s AA teams over the course of one afternoon during the season. Next Sunday will see Deux Rives visit Dollard and West Island host Lakeshore at Dorval arena. No word yet on whether or not the coaches will ban turkey from the player’s diets in anticipation of the Thanksgiving Day contests.