MIDGET PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - WHAT COULDA' BEEN

August 12, four intensely-played games in just 28 hours proved to be a bit too much for the Kawartha Lakes Farmers Mutual Insurance midget rep lacrosse team at the provincial D championship tournament.

The Fury midget rep team won two games and lost two at the provincial tournament in Kitchener-Waterloo. Kawartha Lakes was eliminated on Saturday night by the Kingston Krossfire, the eventual tournament champions in the 15-team event. Kingston was also the 2007 Eastern Ontario Zone 5 "C" Champions.

In just its first full season of rep play, the midget Fury team showed it could compete with all clubs at the "D" level throughout the province. The club displayed some of its best team play and all-around efforts of the season at the Ontario tournament. The Fury actually led Kingston 2-1 with eight minutes to play in the team’s fourth and final game, but after impressive offensive efforts and strong defensive play in the fast-paced match, the cumulative effects of two games on Friday and as many on Saturday seemed to take their toll on the club. Entering the third period of the Kingston game with the one-goal lead, Kawartha Lakes had outshot the Krossfire 21-20, but managed just three more shots in the final period. Meanwhile, Kingston peppered Fury goaltender Luke Smith with 14 shots in the third period, and scored four of its six third-period goals on power plays. The combination of fatigue and penalties were too much for the Fury to overcome.

The Fury began the tournament Friday with a 6-3 loss to Orangeville and then faced elimination in the double-knockout format event. Kawartha Lakes actually trailed 3-1 and 4-3 to Guelph in its second game later on Friday, but rallied for an exciting 6-4 win that put the Fury against London on Saturday. In that game, Kawartha Lakes put on its best display of positional, patient play in the first period, taking a 6-0 lead en route to the team’s biggest win of the season (14-4 final). That victory set up the match against Kingston.

Leading the scoring for the Fury in the tournament was Corey Fargo, who scored seven goals and added two assists in the four games. Fury captain Steve Junkin had five goals and three assists, while Alex Brodhagen scored three and had as many helpers. Other Fury scoring included: Jay Nugent (two goals, two assists), Mark Smith (two goals, two assists), Cody Welton (four assists), Josh Nokes (three goals), Cody Poulton (one goal, two assists), Wade Coady (one goal, one assist), and Tyler Smith (one goal).

Both Fury goaltenders, Luke Smith and James Puffer, each earned a victory in net for Farmers Mutual at the tournament.

Home