Lakers making some waves

The Lomond Lakers have been knocking on the door all season.

Finally, last weekend, they just the door in.

After opening the season with 10 straight losses, the Lakers broke into the win column last Friday with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Stettler Lightning.

Lakers bench boss Brad Koch said it may have taken longer than his players would have liked, but they're finally on the same page.

"The boys are just starting to finally buy into our program and our system," Koch said. "Everything is coming together.

"We knew it was going to take time."

Clayton Billyard and Chase Honess scored in the third period as Lomond overcame a 4-2 deficit to force extra time.

After overtime failed to solve anything, Billyard and Aaron Areshenko scored in the shootout while Lakers 'tender Brady Newton turned aside every shooter he faced to spark the victory celebration.

"Anytime you can get a win, it helps a ton," Koch said. "We needed that."

One could be excused for thinking the Lakers might be content with the weekend win, especially with the still-perfect Okotoks Oilers in town the following night.

But Lomond, playing with new-found confidence, gave the Bisons all they could handle, eventually falling 5-4.

That opened a few eyes and should have the Lakers feeling like they can compete on a nightly basis.

"I know it opened up their eyes and everyone else's eyes," Koch said. "If we play like that, we can play with anybody.

"But Okotoks is good, boy. They're 14-0 for a reason. They're the top team in Alberta.

"It was 3-0 (for the Bisons) after the first 10 minutes and we though 'oh boy, here we go.' But the boys battled back really hard and stuck right with them.

"We were pretty proud of them."

Honess ended up picking up six points in the two games and was named one of the HJHL's three stars of the week.

Koch said the 20-year-old was finally rewarded for his strong effort.

"We've been waiting for him to get on the scoreboard," Koch said. "It took awhile.

"He's one of our core leaders and we needed him. He came up pretty big last weekend.

"Nothing changed. He's always worked his butt off but things finally started going his way."

Honess and the Lakers will look to keep the ball rolling this weekend, starting with an important game Friday night against the visiting Strathmore Wheatland Kings (5-7-0) in Bassano.

"That's a big game because we'll be chasing Strathmore and High River for that final playoff spot," Koch said.

"And then on Saturday, we're in Claresholm against Sylvan Lake (6-8-0). That'll be the first time we see them, so we're looking forward to it."