Friday Night at Healthy Now a Must-Win for Jr. C Lakers After Falling to Six Nations in Game 3 of Meredith Cup Final

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Jr. C Lakers are one win away from being eliminated from the Meredith Cup Final after falling 9-7 to the Six Nations Stealth on Wednesday night.

The Peterborough Jr. C Lakers trail the Six Nations Stealth 2-1 in the best-of-five Meredith Cup Final heading into a must-win Game 4 on Friday night at Healthy Planet Arena. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Jr. C Lakers, via Christine Liu)

The Lakers fell behind 3-0 in the opening period before battling back to tie the game early in the second. Brodie Roberts and Kennen Withers scored for Peterborough in the first, with Cardiff Mader and Ryder Evans recording assists.

Ryder Perry opened the second-period scoring with a power-play goal to make it 3-3, but Six Nations answered with a shorthanded goal from Jake Skye to regain the lead.

Perry scored again on the power play at 13:11, with Braxtin Howard and Logan Giroux assisting, before Withers scored his second of the night to put Peterborough ahead 5-4.

Six Nations tied the game with a shorthanded goal from Ryker Powless, but the Lakers regained the lead when Withers completed his hat trick at 7:24, with Howard and Ryder Evans assisting.

Six Nations scored four times in the third period, including two goals from Brian LaForme, to take the lead and hold on for the win.

Jordan Garfat scored Peterborough's lone goal of the third period, cutting the Six Nations lead to 8-7 with 4:26 remaining, but LaForme scored his second of the period with 2:28 left to restore the two-goal lead.

Perry and Withers led the Lakers with three points apiece. Perry had two goals and Withers scored three, while Ryder Evans and Howard each recorded two assists. Roberts and Garfat also scored, with Mader and Giroux adding assists.

The Lakers outshot Six Nations 49-41, while Chase Brown made 32 saves for Peterborough.

Six Nations now leads the best-of-five series 2-1, putting the Lakers in a must-win situation for Game 4.

That game is Friday at 8pm at Healthy Planet Arena, with the Lakers needing a win to force a fifth and deciding game.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.