It was the weekend we hoped to gain some ground, but in the end it was not to be. The Junior B Predators took on Leamington last Saturday at the Shores Recreation Centre. A win in regulation time would have put the team in a good place to try and catch Leamington in the standings with games in hand to help close the gap. The team even came out fast from the opening faceoff and scored 19 seconds into the game. Coy Kulich scored with Duncan McSorely assisting. Unfortunately

Leamington answered back at 3:20 and then again at 14:39 to take a 2 – 1 lead even though the Predators out shot them in the first period 14 – 10. Leamington turned their game around more in the second period out shooting the Predators 17 – 7 and closed the frame out leading 4 – 1. At the half way point of the third period a goal by Brendon Merrit from Matt Melo and Brandon Stewart gave the home team a ray of hope and closed the gap to 4 – 2.  However goals 25 seconds apart a few

minutes later was the insurance Leamington needed to take the win 6 – 2.
 

Sunday was another heartbreaking loss when the team travelled to St.Thomas to take on the Stars. The Predators managed to open the scoring at 1:48 when Coy Kulich and Brandon Ethier assisted on the goal by Cody Curts. Matt Simon in goal managed to keep the Stars off the score sheet in the first period even after facing 21 shots compared to the 9 shots his teammates shot at St. Thomas.  Shots were more even in the second period at 15 - 13 for the Stars and they managed to score twice to take a 2 – 1 lead into the third frame.  The Predators point leaders Brandon Stewart and Ben Woodley earned assists at 3:52 when Adam Arnseneault scored to tie the game. Then at 7:33 the Predators re-took the lead on a goal by Dave Hutchinson with Kalvin Thornton assisting. Shortly after the midway point of the third period the Stars managed to tie the game at 3 – 3. Both teams fought to break to the tie with the Stars being successful at 18:09 of the period. Down a goal the Predators pulled out all the stops and tried to tie it with 6 attackers. Unfortunately the Stars managed to score in empty nets and then added one more on a breakaway to end the game at 6 – 3.

The Predators now have two away games this week on days they would have ordinarily been practicing. Tuesday, they travel to Strathroy to take on the Rockets. Then on Thursday they take on the Legionnaires in Sarnia in the first of back to back games with them. The second game of their series with Sarnia is scheduled for Saturday   Dec. 5^th at 7:45 at the Shores Recreation Centre. A large crowd is expected that night to enjoy  the rivalry between the two teams as Sarnia usually has a following of faithful fans attend their games.