Author: Nathan Pascoe
Kirkland
Lake-Saturday, October 18, 2025- The message in the pre-season was simple, pass
the puck and skate hard, the offence will come from that.
At times, during the pre-season, the
Ultimate Sales Sting struggled with these two concepts, and those were the
games that they lost. Something clicked for the Sting on Saturday as they went
to Kirkland Lake for a double header. The game started off with the Sting in
control of the pace of the game, they drove the net, passed the puck and
generally controlled the neutral zone. It was beginning to look like they would
have a dominating game, but a defensive miscue forced Jaxen Beauparlant to take
one of those good tripping penalties to prevent a Blue Devil breakaway. The
Blue Devils would quickly capitalize on their PP as Kael Lachapelle (Kohut)
would wire a rising shot from the point to make it 1-0. The Sting were not
going to throw in the towel, a minute later Michael Fox (E. Restoule) would
score his first of the season, and 45 seconds later Noah Serré would go end to
end to give the Sting a lead they would not relent for the rest of the game.
The only other penalty went to the Blue Devils’ Ben Roy (tripping)
The
second period would continue like the first ended, with the Ultimate Sales
Sting dominating the pace of play. The Sting put on a passing clinic, moving
the puck with speed and precision. Bruno Lafond (Fox and Seguin) would pot the
eventual game winner on the power play. There were no penalties in the second
period.
By
the third period, the Sting were in full control of the game. As they continued
their crisp play, Michael Fox would score his second of the game, and a few
minutes later Bruno Lafond (Fox) would seal the deal with his second of the
game. At this point, the Blue Devils began to get frustrated with some
questionable plays happening. This cumulated with a Blue Devils player kicking
goalie Lawson Restoule. Luckily, his younger brother Emmitt Restoule was having
none of that, and would remove the Blue Devils player from the crease. This
speaks to the type of team the coaching staff have put together; grit, hard
work, skilled play, and passion! A winning combination if I have ever seen one.
Penalties in the period would go to Michael Fox (body checking), and for the
Blue Devils Grant Szulga (body checking). The final score would be 5-2 for the
Sting after the Blue Devils added a shorthanded goal at the end of the period.
Game
2 would see Restoule replaced by returning Sting goalie Max Legault. Legault
would demonstrate why he was a AA goalie last year, putting on a clinic with
his glove. Bruno Lafond got the game started with his 3rd goal of
the season (matching his last season total). Not to be shown up, Jaxen
Beauparlant grabbed a Zach Serré rebound and made it 2-0 for the Ultimate Sales
Sting. The only time that Legault would be beat came in the first on a
beautiful wrap around goal (Grant Szulga) that had Legault going the wrong way.
There were no penalties in the first period.
The
second and third period were just a matter of continuing smart hockey for the
Sting. Hunter Seguin (Fox) would score his first goal of the regular season in
the second, and Michael Fox would post his third of the season in the third on
the power play. The Sting would take two penalties in the game Bruno Lafond
(tripping), and Emmitt Restoule (Hooking). The Blue Devils would only take one,
Ben Roy (roughing). Action continues next week for the Sting as they take on
the East Nipissing Vipers in East Ferris on Saturday at 5:00pm.