By Damon Proctor – September 21st, 2023
LASALLE, ON.
Game 2 of the 2023-2024 season saw the Vipers back at home to take on the Chatham
Maroons. With the GOJHL Showcase fast approaching this weekend, LaSalle looked to add
another win and carry that momentum up to Elmira. The start of the game contained very little
action and whistles. However, nearly ten minutes into the game, Andrew Kotevski buried his first
goal of the season thanks to a great set up from Knight and Graniero. Shortly after the first
strike, Drew Booker sniped his first goal of the year to give the Vipers a two goal lead. The
Vipers took the only penalty in this period, as Nathan Gaymes was called for hooking. The
LaSalle PK held strong, and with 1:50 left in the frame, Connor Tucker buried his 4th goal in just
two games off a rebound generated by McManus. LaSalle would take a 3-0 lead heading into
the break, with the shots being 10-9 in favor of the Vipers.
Period number two started off with a bang, as rookie Nathan Gaymes found the back of the net
and secured his first GOJHL goal. Minutes later, Gaymes received a cross checking penalty as
well as offsetting roughing calls for Adriano Tonin, and Chatham’s Braeden Burke. The Viper’s
penalty kill stood tall once more, however another Viper, Josh Harding, would soon after send
LaSalle back to the PK. This time around, the kill unit did more than just stop the Maroons.
Kotevski found the back of the net shorthanded for his second of the game, and to make it 5-0 LaSalle. The Maroons would eventually get on the board not long after the Kotevski goal to make it 5-1. Just when you thought one rookie goal was good, Angelo Protopapas buried his first GOJHL goal off a beautiful shot from the top of the circle. LaSalle would head into the intermission now up with a comfortable 6-1 lead, despite the shots being 19-17 in favor of Chatham.
It seemed as the game progressed, the periods got more and more hectic/action packed. Vipers
captain Owen Findlay wasted no time at the start of the third frame, and rifled home his first of the
season to make it 7-1 Lasalle! Unfortunately, the excitement of the LaSalle bench and crowd
would be short lived within the following three minutes. After crashing the net, forward Connor
Tucker was bumped by an opposing Chatham defenseman. Tucker took an odd and fast fall,
ultimately hitting his head hard against the boards and left the game. From that point on, tempers
flared from the players, and penalties began to pile up. In total, Lasalle and Chatham combined
for 18 minutes of penalties and 3 misconducts in the third period alone. This hectic game ended
with a Chatham goal scored with just 5 seconds to go. Altiman had a phenomenal performance
stopping 30/32 shots, as the Vipers claimed back to back victories to start the season.
As mentioned, the Viper’s head up to Elmira this weekend to compete in the 2023-2024 GOJHL
Showcase. They will face Caledonia on Saturday and St.Catharines on Sunday.
