Admirals snap four-game skid and beat Mooretown 4-1

Amherstburg’s Brett Jones (21, blue jersey) heads up ice during Sunday night’s game against Mooretown. The Admirals won 4-1.

A pre-game pep talk did the trick Sunday as the Amherstburg Admirals beat the visiting Mooretown Flags 4-1.

The win, snapping a four-game winless skid, was the first time in five attempts that the Admirals were able to beat the Flags.

“We met earlier than we usually do and went over a different plan. Mooretown has beaten us every game we’ve played them this year,” said Amherstburg head coach Zack Gervais.

It did not take the Admirals long to get on the scoreboard as Finnigan Russett got his fourth goal of the year just 3:44 into the game. 

At first the tally was credited to defenceman Luka Milosevic who let got with a shot from the point.

It was all Admirals in the middle period as Cale Marontate got what would be the eventual game winner and Jake Goudreault walked in from the point and let go with a one-timer off a perfect good vision pass from captain Drew Booker.

Both of those goals were set up by second year forward Darby Drouillard, who has been playing very well after missing a few games with an injury. With centre Brody Gillis out, the Admirals have had to reconfigure their lines and Drouillard skated with Marontate and Booker.

“All three of us want to get in the corner, put pressure on their defence and come out with the puck,” said Drouillard.

Previous games against the Flags had seen the Admirals get up by two or three goals but lose in the closing minutes of the game.

“It was good for us to keep our foot on the gas, bear down and get the win,” said Drouillard.

Sunday’s triumph, which saw the Admirals improve their Provincial Junior Hockey League (Junior C) record improve to 8-12-2-0, came following a disappointing 7-1 loss to the visiting Dresden Kings the night before.

“Against Dresden, they were up 3-0 about four minutes into the game and we weren’t ready to play,” said Gervais.

It was a totally different story against the Flags as Amherstburg dominated throughout and got an outstanding performance from defenceman MacKenzie Spencer who along with fellow rookie Evan Klein played very physical all night.

“They are taking a lot of good strides. When we play physical we’re a good team. If we play passive, teams are going to walk all over us. When we are aggressive we’re a hard team to beat,” said Gervais.

Saturday’s game against the Kings was the midway point of the 42-game regular season schedule and for Drouillard, the win over Mooretown is a chance to get better.

“I think it’s important to build on this. We want to keep rolling.”

Amherstburg has a busy week ahead as they travel to Walpole Island Thursday night to face the Wild, host the West Stobbs Division leading Essex 73’s this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. before the Lakeshore Canadiens visit the Libro Centre for a 5 p.m. start. Sunday.

SLAPSHOTS… Defenceman Freddie McCroy got his fourth of the year against the Flags… Admirals’ rookie goalie Bennett Horrocks picked up the win last Sunday as he made 27 saves.

Admirals snap four-game skid, beat Mooretown 4-1

By Fred Groves