Admirals break out of losing slump in a huge way
After coming up short in their three previous games, the Amherstburg Admirals came up big Saturday night.
At the Libro Centre, the Admirals skated to a very impressive 5-2 win over the Dresden Kings to up their Provincial Junior Hockey League (Junior C) record to 3-6.
There were a multitude of story lines to this one, but perhaps the biggest was the return of veteran Cory Leach.
Now in his third year, the explosive skating winger, suited up for his first game of the 2026-27 campaign after suffering a broken leg just a couple of months ago.
“It feels good to be out there,” he said after the game.
In the third period, up by just a goal, Leach did what he does best and found some open ice waiting for his regular linemate to make the connection.
“I was pretty tired. I was just waiting in the slot and Finn (Finnigan Russett) always gets the puck, he works hard. He waited and found me,” said Leach.
Russett, playing in his 100th regular season for the blue-and-white had an outstanding night with a goal of his own as well as the helper.
Having Leach back in the lineup and rookie defenceman Zach Cvetkovski also suiting up for his first contest gave the Admirals a definite jump in their step and a renewed confidence.
“With Leach in the lineup, our lines are balanced. When you inject that speed and his good attitude, everything works,” said Amherstburg head coach Paul Bortignon.
It was scoreless after the first period against the Kings before rookie Cooper Woodman went to work. After Russett put the Admirals on the board just 54 seconds into the middle stanza, Woodman followed up shortly after and added another later to help for the Admirals.
“We came into the room after the first and knew we weren’t moving quick enough. I saw the gap, used my speed and took the opportunity,” said Woodman.
One of several rookies on this year’s team, he had 17 points last season for the Windsor AAA U18 side and after the game against Dresden noted the difference between junior and minor hockey.
“Overall the physicality, the guys are way tougher, they are bigger. It’s a tough jump but the guys are letting me settle in.”
Yet another storyline out of Saturday’s game is the emerging of second year forward Brayden Hebert. Along with rookies Parker Janisse and Alex Schneider, they form the Admirals top trio. Hebert let go with a rocket that clanged the iron and went in in the third period.
“We want our guys to play fun and fast and we saw that tonight,” said Bortignon.
It’s a busy upcoming schedule for the Admirals as they have three games in just four days. They travel to Walpole Island Thursday to face the Wild, welcome Blenheim to the Libro Centre Saturday night and the next afternoon at 4 p.m. host the Wild.
Hunter Welk started in goal for Amherstburg against the Kings but left with an undisclosed injury after making 25 saves, giving way to Bennett Horrocks.
SLAPSHOTS… Hebert, who, along with Janisse lead the team in scoring, was recognized as the Admirals’ Player of the Month for September… Captain Cale Marontate was away at the national college golf tournament in Quebec.
Admirals break out of losing slump in a huge way
By Fred Groves
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