Lions dig deep to stave off elimination against Blizzard

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

The Chronicle

The Lac St. Louis Lions finally found something within themselves Monday night at the Pete Morin Arena in Lachine.

The Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League club blasted the Séminaire St. François Blizzard 7-2 in game four of their best-of-seven Jimmy Ferrari Cup final series to stave off elimination. Game five takes place tonight at Laval University in Quebec City. Game six, if necessary, will unfold Friday night at the Léo Crépin Arena in Châteauguay.

The Blizzard dominated the three games leading up to Monday, as undisciplined play combined with inconsistent goaltending and possible exhaustion from a long playoff schedule hurt the Lions.

Game 1: Blizzard 6 Lions 3 (April 5, Laval University)

A pair of Blizzard goals during the first two minutes of the opening period sets the Lions on their heels, and perhaps the tone for games one through three. The Lions would cut the lead to 3-2 after two on Michael Whitaker and Francis Drolet markers, but the Blizzard make it 4-2 in the third. Whitaker with his second then makes it a one-goal game before two empty-net goals seals the deal for the Blizzard.

Game 2: Blizzard 9 Lions 0 (April 6, Laval University)

In a forgettable night for the Lions, the Blizzard score five times in the first 30 minutes of play and win easily. In an effort to insert a little confidence into his troops heading into game three and prove to themselves they could beat Blizzard goaltender Adrien Lemay, Lions head coach Danny Dupont decides to yank goaltender Michael Codina-Lucia with almost five minutes left in the third period. The strategy doesn’t work. The Blizzard only deposit two more pucks into the empty net.

Game 3: Blizzard 9 Lions 1 (April 8, Pete Morin Arena)

Home-ice advantage proves useless for the Lions, as once again the Blizzard dominate. The visitors build up a 9-0 lead before Michael Domsodi finally breaks Lemay’s shutout string by scoring with less than 90 seconds left in the third period. The Blizzard would convert five of 15 power-play chances.

Game 4: Lions 7 Blizzard 2 (April 9, Peter Morin Arena)

The Blizzard once again jump-off to an early 1-0 lead, but the Lions finally solve Lemay, putting four shots behind him in the first period. Christopher Reiss, Joseph Campanelli shorthanded, Kyle Hunchberger and Reiss with his second also on a shorthanded effort account for the Lions. After the Blizzard narrow the gap to 4-2 early in the second, the Lions decide to finally make life easy for themselves, as Louis Leblanc

and Michael Hunter score to make it 6-2. Mathieu Gingras scores in the third for the home side to round out the scoring.