LUCAN – The Lucan Irish hung tough against the Thamesford Trojans Jan. 20 but lost 5-4 in a game that pitted them against one of the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League (SOJHL)'s elite teams.
The Irish followed that with a 7-5 win over the Burford Bulldogs Saturday night, their eighth win in 32 tries this season.
Against Thamesford the Irish scored the first two goals of the game, one a power play effort from Joel Nother and the second on a penalty shot for Nick Moniz.
Thamesford's Kyle Walker scored with 2:29 left in the first period and the score remained 2-1 Irish at the first intermission.
Lucan went on the attack early in the second period, and Nother grabbed his second goal of the game 1:24 into the frame.
Thamesford's John Garbe reduced the lead roughly five minutes later, scoring a power play goal that made the score 3-2 Lucan.
Irish player Jason McCuaig regained a two-goal lead for the Irish, scoring 3:29 into the third period, but Thamesford scored three unanswered goal to win the game.
Tyler Schruder scored at 5:46, then Travis Parkin tied the score about two minutes later. Garbe scored the winner with 2:15 left.
Irish goalie Dylan Gray had 26 saves in the loss, while Thamesford's Matt Rowe had 31 saves in the win.
Lucan led 2-1 after the first period of the Burford game, thanks to goals from Nother and Tyler Medd.
They scored three more goals in the second period, two of them from Nother and the other from Medd.
The Irish allowed two goals in the second period, leaving the score 5-3 after 40 minutes.

Both teams scored twice in the third period, but Lucan was able to hang on for the win. Nick Engel and Nother each found the net in the final frame.
Al Cousins went the distance in goal for the Irish, making 29 saves.
Lucan will play at Port Stanley Saturday night, their only game this week. Their next home game will be Feb. 3 at 7:45 p.m. at the Lucan Community Memorial Centre.