If the Amherstburg Admirals want to win hockey games this year, they are going to have to play a full 60 minutes.
The Admirals played a strong opening period but fell 4-3 to the Walpole Island Wild in Provincial Junior Hockey League (Jr. C) action last Saturday night at the Libro Centre.
Rookie defenceman Freddie McCroy put the hosts up when he connected with his first of the year, on an opening period powerplay.
“He’s playing great. He moves the puck well and he is getting pucks to the net. It’s nice to see the offensive ability,” said Admirals’ head coach Beau Hunter of McCroy.
When Zach Wilson scored for the Wild with 21 seconds left in the period, it seemed to deflate the home side. The middle frame belonged entirely to Walpole Island who picked up their first win of the season.
“We came out and we played well but there’s obviously three periods, not one. If you take a second period off like that and allow them to creep in, those are the games you are going to lose,” said an obviously frustrated Hunter.
One thing the locals are doing well, and did it throughout Saturday’s game, was an aggressive, solid-hitting forecheck. Kaden Juodikis did a great job keeping the Wild penned up in their own end for most of the first period.
The visitors went up 3-1 in the second on goals by Vaughn Macklin less than three minutes in, and another by Cohen Veenstra that sent Admirals’ starting goalie Jay Procter to the bench in favour of Russell Vaughan.
“We only had one game this weekend. We have to show up and be ready to play,” said Hunter.
Walpole Island burst out of the second intermission looking for more and it took Aaron Highfield, who was named the first star of the game, 15 seconds to walk in alone and put one past Vaughan.
“We weren’t ready tonight. There were a lot of guys not in the game and not willing to work. Sometimes you think it is going to be a cake walk and this is what happens,” said Hunter.
In the only other meeting of the two clubs this year, Amherstburg came from behind to beat the Wild in overtime on their own ice.
Amherstburg improved somewhat in the third period when defenceman Jack Bulmer converted a beauty of a pass from Cory Leach and Brady Drouillard got his fourth of the season late as the hosts had the extra attacker.
Two-point nights were recorded by Bulmer and Drouillard as well as Drew Booker who now leads the Admirals with eight points in six games.
Mitch Rawlings picked up the win in net for the Wild, turning away 36 shots.
Amherstburg heads to Wheatley on Wednesday to face Sharks who are being led by former Admiral Stefan Jacobs. Saturday night at the Libro Centre, the Essex 73’s are in town for a 7:30 p.m. start.
SLAPSHOTS…Good attendance at home against the Wild with almost 300…Nice to see a lot of young minor hockey players in the Amherstburg Minor Hockey Association jerseys.
Admirals can't tame the Wild come up short 4-3
By Fred Groves
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