The Port Perry MoJacks have bounced back from a 0-2 start to 2017 with three convincing wins, thanks in part to a string of monster performances by a white hot Graham Lamers.  After doubling Georgina 8-4 on the road last Friday, the Jacks welcomed the North Kawartha Knights to Scugog Arena on Sunday afternoon.  Lamers put up his second straight three goal game to lead his team to an 8-3 win in front of a modest afternoon crowd.  He continued his streak on Tuesday night, returning to Georgina and scoring twice more en route to a 7-3 victory.

Lamers has 10 goals in his last five games, and leads the club with 30 on the season.  And while the team appears to have rediscovered the offensive explosiveness of late which was evident earlier in the season, their upcoming games versus Lakefield and Clarington will likely decide their status heading into the playoffs next month.

On Sunday, the Knights came ready to play, and had the MoJacks on their heels for the first part of the game.  However it was Brady Martin who opened the scoring 5:24 in, on the MoJacks first true chance of the afternoon.  Brett Harrison and Konrad Piorkowski out-muscled the Knights defenders in the corner and the puck squirted out to Martin.  He curled out of the corner and snapped a wrist shot low blocker on Spencer Green, who made the start in goal for the Knights.  Martin’s 8th of the year got the MoJacks rolling, but the lead was quickly erased.

Jackson Wiltshire intercepted a pass just outside the Knights blue line and broke away 2-on-1.  He used the decoy perfectly and ripped one past Brett Chandler to tie the game less than a minute after Martin’s goal.

Mitchell Gustavsen restored the lead at 13:58 after a nice pass by Martin, who finished the game with a goal and two helpers for three points officially.

Lamers first of the game stretched the lead to two with just over a minute to play in the period.  Piorkowski’s wrap around attempt was denied, but Lamers followed the puck to the net and banged it home.  (Click here to hear his post-game comments about the game, his success of late and his new teammates.)

The teams traded big chances to start the second, and once again, the Knights speed game was apparent to start the period.  Their relentless skating paid off when Chris Polito was forced into a hooking penalty mid-way through the frame, and the Knights capitalized on the power play.  Jesse Douglas took the puck wide with speed after entering the zone and drew two MoJacks defenders before feathering a pass into the middle with Christian Lachapelle driving hard to the goal.  Lachapelle fired it quickly and beat Chandler to draw the Knights within one.  But Douglas took a silly roughing penalty after the goal, and the Jacks power play responded with Lucas Berkers blasting home a point shot to restore the two goal advantage.

Cole Arnold got the Knights close again in the third, but Lachapelle killed any momentum North Kawartha had when he took Gustavsen dangerously into the boards from behind after losing a race to a loose puck.  Gustavsen stayed down for a couple minutes, but was able to stay in the game.  The MoJacks power play made good again after creating a slew of quality scoring chances with some precise puck movement.  Cole Murray and Luke Wyatt used their size to dig the puck off the boards.  Wyatt curled up top and found Lamers on the left wing.  After taking a couple quick strides towards the middle, Lamers demonstrated his quick release by ripping one off the post and in.  He scored his third of the game while shorthanded with just over a minute left to complete the hat trick, scoring once each at even strength, on the power play and while down a man.

Gustavsen scored his second of the game in between, and Jordan McCullough added his 11th of the season in the third period as well.

On Tuesday, the last place Georgina Ice held the MoJacks to just a 3-1 lead after two periods, but Port Perry exploded for four in the third period to skate away with the win.  Lamers added two more goals, including another on the power play, which has been showing signs of life lately for the MoJacks.  Lamers has tallied four of his 30 goals with the man advantage this season.

The MoJacks open a home and home with the Little Britain Merchants on Wednesday night at the Scugog Arena.  They will play in Little Britain on Saturday night before returning home to battle the Clarington Eagles on Sunday afternoon in a crucial showdown.  The MoJacks are currently five points up on the Eagles for second spot in the Orr Division, and two points behind front running Lakefield, with all three teams having played 34 games to this point. 

The Chiefs will be in Uxbridge Friday night, and will host Georgina on Saturday before taking on the MoJacks next Tuesday January 24 in Lakefield in a game which may decide top spot.  The Eagles meanwhile will play three games in four nights starting Thursday at home versus the Merchants.  They then travel to Georgina Friday night before coming to Port Perry on Sunday afternoon.