Lions look to end recent downward spiral

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

After an impressive start to their season, nobody in the midget AAA Lac St. Louis hockey Lions’ organization was unrealistic enough to realize there wouldn’t be bumps along the way.

Those assumptions became a stark reality during a stretch that ran from the end of November through all of December. Forced to play a brutal schedule that included 10 consecutive road games, combined with a few injuries to key players and culminated by the loss of starting goaltender Matt Dopud, who was recalled to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League by the St. John Seadogs, the Dollard des Ormeaux-based Lions went into a tailspin that saw them lose seven out of eight games.

However, following the team’s impressive 9-3 victory over the Trois-Rivières Estacades on Saturday night at the Dollard Civic Centre — its first since Dec. 9 and off the heels of last Friday night’s 6-4 home loss to the Laurentides Vikings — observers feel there is room once again for optimism. The team is healthy, the remaining schedule appears to be much friendlier, and a new goaltender was acquired on waivers hours before the game to replace Dopud. Marc-André Payment arrived with experience, having played as a backup last year with the defending league champions Châteauguay Patriotes. He did see action during the Patriotes bronze-medal run at the 2006 Telus Cup in Charlottetown.

“I’ve known Marc-André for a while,� Dupont said. “He was actually pretty good for the Patriotes. We had to be patient, because other teams were looking at him. We’re happy to have him. It’s a late Christmas gift.�

Payment had a light night’s work against the Estacades, facing only 18 shots. He did, however, make a key save in the first period to preserve a 1-0 lead.

“I’m happy to be here,� said Payment, who had been playing junior AAA in St. Félicien. “The Lions gave me a chance and for that, I am appreciative. This is a good team, and we’ll be a family that I feel will go in the right direction now. Sure there will be pressure on me, but all I can do is play my game.�

After playing undisciplined hockey on Friday in a game that saw defenceman Danny Biega score a hat trick in a losing effort, the Lions let out all their frustrations on the Estacades, pouring 56 shots on beleaguered Trois-Rivières goaltender François Lacerte. Forward Benjamin Power led the way with two goals and three assists while defenceman Spiro Goulakos chipped in with a goal and three assists.

“I believe we’ve turned the corner,� said Lions forward Kyle Hunchberger. “A lot of the guys were down on the bench during that slide, but tonight the energy was there. We’ve beaten every team in the league, so we know we can win out there. We just have to play our game, which is work hard and play as a team.�

Puck note: The Lions’ record, 17-3-1 on Nov. 27, now stands at 19-10-1 heading into this Friday night’s home game against Laval-Bourassa. Jonquière pays a visit on Saturday night. Both games begin at 7:30.