The Kitchener Waterloo Kodiaks picked up their first win of the 2013 MSL season after a 7-6 victory over the Oakville Rock at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.
The Rock jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Nic Grasby found the back of the net just a minute into the opening frame. Jamie Batson tied the game up just under 11 minutes later, putting the ball past KW netminder Mike Poulin. With 45 seconds remaining in the first period, Newmarket native Mike Woods broke the deadlock to give the Rock a 2-1 lead heading into the locker room.
Reigning CLax scoring champion Corey Fowler netted a pair of goals to give the Kodiaks a 3-2 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the second period. Both of the newly aquired Kodiak’s goals were assisted by 11 year NLL veteran Aaron Wilson.
The Rock replied with a pair of goals from Brampton Excelsior Jr.A product Kyle Davis and RIT Tiger Kyle Aquin. KW knotted the game back up at four after a Brandon Ivey marker assisted by Fowler, the third Niagara region native’s third point of the evening. Aquin pulled the Rock away once again, this time the helper coming from Washington Stealth defender Justin Pychel.
Wilson continued to showcase his playmaking abilities, chipping in another helper on Jamie Rooney’s third goal of the season, once again tying the game up. Aquin completed his hat trick with just over 13 minutes remaining in regulation. Rooney found the back of the net once again while being set up by Kitchener native Wilson.
With the game all knotted up at six with 3:24 remaining in regulation, rookie Mitch Wilde capitalized on the slow reverse transition by Oakville’s offense as he made a move to their cage on a fast break from Poulin and blasted a shot short side on Oakville netminder Tye Belanger.
KW’s defense and Poulin shut Oakville down the remaining three minutes to lock up the teams first victory of 2013.
Leading the way for KW were Fowler and Wilson as they each tallied four points each. In Fowler’s season debut he netted a pair of goals and two assists while Wilson nabbed four helpers in the Kodiaks’ win.
In the Rock’s loss, Kyle Aquin lead the way offensively in his season debut.
Mike Poulin picked up his first win of the 2013 season while adding a helper from the crease.
Belanger records his second loss of the season despite a solid effort between the pipes only allowing seven goals.
The Kodiaks will look to keep the wheels rolling as they will take on the undefeated Brooklin Redmen this Wednesday night.
Oakville will look to get back into the win column as they host the winless Brampton Excelsiors this Saturday night.
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