Lambton falls to Nationals

Photos by Mike Maloney/London Community News/Twitter: mdmaloneyphoto The London Nationals improved their early season record to 3-1 with a win at home against the visiting Lambton Shores Predators on Wednesday night (Sept. 19). Playing out of the familiar confines of the Western Fair Sports Complex, the Nationals looked to be in firmly control of the game until the halfway point of their Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) contest. Up by a score of 3-1, back-to-back goals by the Predators late in the mid-frame spilled the wind from London’s sails, allowing Lambton to draw even heading into the third. Ryan Tuffin’s second of the game, off the top of the final frame, briefly put the home team back in the lead. That was until another pair from the Predators — scored by Cale Duberry and Kyle Brothers — lined London up behind the eight-ball just three minutes into the third period. Quick to rally back, Paul Hopkins evened the score once again, firing home a laser guided shot to the left side of Lambton netminder Justin Tugwell. Aaron Dartch would be up next, threading the needle between Tugwell and the post three minutes later with his second goal of the night, which would prove to be the game winner. Once again answering the call between the pipes, Taylor Edwards turned away 27 of the 32 shots sent his way and it was Shawn Crowley recording the other London marker in the 6-5 win. The Nationals now have a week off until the Sarnia Legionnaires slide onto the visitors bench for a 7:30 p.m. game between the GOJHL Western Division rivals at the Western Fair Sports Complex next Wednesday (Sept. 26). Find us on Facebook: London Community News [gallery]