Lakers Athletics

KINGSTON — Dorian Peca and Brogan Bailey provided some late-game heroics to turn what could have been a loss into an important two points for the Nipissing Lakers, Friday.

Peca tied the game with one minute remaining to force overtime and Bailey scored the only goal of the shootout as the Lakers (11-6-4) rallied for a 4-3 win over the Queen’s Gaels (10-8-2) in OUA men’s hockey action.

On the tying goal, with Lakers goalie Daniel Spence on his way to the bench for an extra attacker, Nipissing defenceman Jason Gray kept the puck in at the blueline and fed Doug Clarkson, who fired a cross-crease pass to Peca for the tap-in.

Bailey was the fourth shooter in the shootout, with Spence stopping all four Gaels’ attempts to preserve the win.

“I thought we played pretty well the whole game, we just couldn’t score,” said Lakers head coach Mike McParland. “Luckily, we got one in the last minute and got the chance to win it in the shootout.

“These are big points. All of these games are big.”

The Gaels led 2-1 after the first period on goals by Kelly Jackson and Tyler Moore, with Clarkson replying for the Lakers.

Bailey tied the game 2-2 in the second period, before Jackson’s second of the game gave Queen’s a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.

The shots were even at 40-40, with Spence making 37 saves to earn the win.

The Lakers remain in Kingston Saturday to face the RMC Paladins (3-18-1). Lakers leading scorer Conor O’Donnell was not in Friday’s lineup, but McParland said there might be some changes for Saturday.

“We have a couple of guys banged up, so we’ll see what the morning brings us,” he said.