WATERLOO, Ont. - Rookie defenseman Isaac Sooklal scored two goals and the Laurier Golden Hawks extended their three-game win streak to four as they defeated the RMC Paladins in a 5-2 affair at the SunLife Financial Arena on Friday evening.
RMC almost opened up the scoring early in the first period, but Laurier's Christian Propp was there to turn the Paladins away.
Just after Propp's big save, an RMC pass hit a skate and redirected toward the front of the net where Thomas Lenart made a move and slid the puck into the RMC net for his fifth goal of the season and fifth point in his last three games.
Laurier extended their lead 9:02 into the first as Isaac Sooklal scored his first of the evening on a long seeing-eye point shot.
The Paladins turned up the pressure as the clock ticked down in the first period and RMC captain Christopher Paquette was able to beat Propp to make the game 2-1 before the first intermission.
Early into the second period, Sam Williamson found Sullivan Sparkes wide open back door to put the Golden Hawks back up by a pair of goals.
Similar to the first period, the Paladins began to gain momentum towards the end of the period. Brock McNaughton let go a wicked shot that went over the shoulder of Propp to make it a 3-2 game heading into the final frame.
The purple and gold struck early again. Veteran Conor Ali sprung a speedy Sam Rhodes, who used his wheels to break into the RMC zone and re-establish the Golden Hawks' two-goal lead.
Rhodes has seven points in his last three games.
Later on a powerplay, Laurier's Patrick Brown fed Sooklal who beat RMC's Joe Ingram-Chambers for his second goal of the night.
The Golden Hawks held on to defeat the Paladins 5-2 in a crucial game as the regular season is quickly coming to a close.
Propp was his usual self, making some phenomenal saves to keep the puck from finding its way behind him. He stopped 28 of RMC's 30 shots on the evening.
"This win is indicative of the growth of this group. We are finding ways to win when we are not at our best now, whereas early in the year if we were not at our best it was really no contest," said Head Coach Kevin Forrest, "it's all about getting as many points as possible right now and getting into a playoff spot."
And getting points is what they have been doing. The purple and gold are red hot. They have won 9 of their last 11 games, surging from the bottom of the OUA West into a play-in spot.
"We are locked in right now," said first-year Isaac Sooklal, "I think we are just battling hard and sticking to our game and we're working hard in practice and it has been showing."
"I think the position we are in says a lot about our younger guys, they're getting more comfortable and are starting to understand that 'Yeah, I can play in this league and I belong' so their confidence has gone up," said Forrest, "they're also handling the time management piece better with class so they're much more comfortable on the ice."
Forrest also praised the veteran group, as he has been for the past couple of weeks. "They've really stepped up in two ways. Their leadership and also their games on the ice."
PLAYOFF PICTURE
With two games remaining, Laurier (12-12-2) currently sits in sixth place with 26 points. They are tied in points with Lakehead, who boast the same record.
UP NEXT
The Golden Hawks suit up next on Saturday evening at home against the Queens Gaels. Saturday is Seniors Night and the Golden Hawks look to celebrate seven graduating players: Declan Graham, Mitchell Casey, Nick Giunta, Evan Dowd, Sullivan Sparkes, Conor Ali, and Christian Propp.
Puck drop at the SunLife Financial Arena is at 7 p.m. Tickets are now available online. You can also catch all the action live on OUA.tv and RadioLaurier.co
