Admirals suffer defeats in Lakeshore and Mooretown
They might not have picked up a win Friday night in Lakeshore, but the Amherstburg Admirals played perhaps their best game of the year, a close 3-2 loss at the hands of the host Canadiens.
While Lakeshore got on the board early to kick start this one, the Admirals would not be denied and stormed back with veteran Finnigan Russett and rookie Parker Janisse scoring. With the return of captain Cale Marontate and Cory Leach the Admirals looked impressive throughout.
“This is the first game that we had a full lineup. I thought we played well and that we carried the play for good parts of the first and the second but lacked a little confidence in the third,” said Admirals’ head coach Paul Bortignon.
It was deadlocked 2-2 after 40 minutes and sensed that this one would go into overtime but Lakeshore’s Connor Costello squeaked one past former Canadiens’ netminder Hunter Welk for the win.
“When a team like that celebrates to beat us, we must be doing something right,” said Bortignon.
The biggest plus on the night for Amherstburg was the ability of the line of Carter Maxey, Matteo Zuech and Blake Cowgill to get the puck deep and force a faceoff in the Canadiens end of the rink.
“Zuech and Cowgill have played in that role much of the season. It’s a little new for Maxey but I thought they did a good job. They were strong defensively and they won faceoffs,” noticed Bortignon.
Amherstburg got a boost to its roster last week with the return of Holden Wiley. An Amherstburg native, he patrolled the blueline last year but started this season with the LaSalle Vipers Jr. B team. Earlier this year there was some concern on how strong the Admirals would be on defense, but general manager Andrew Sykes has made a few deals and the back end is now solid.
“That’s an instant jolt on the back end,” said Bortignon of getting Wiley back. “He can play in every phase of the game. He’s physical and has good speed.”
Lakeshore had several familiar faces suited up Friday night including former Amherstburg regulars Allan Djordjevic who had a pair of assists, goalie Landon Dimitroff who picked up the win, forward Dallas Kelly and defenceman Jake Gourdreault along with coach Zack Gervais.
Sunday night in Mooretown the visiting Admirals built a 2-0 lead but came up short 6-4 to the Flags.
Scoring for the visitors were Brayden Hebert with a pair, Cory Leach and Curtis Chamney with his first of the season. Braeden Armstrong had two assists.
Amherstburg will try and get back on the winning side Wednesday night when the travel to Wheatley.
SLAPSHOTS: Defenceman Xavier Gelinas has been released… The October 18 game with Walpole Island has been rescheduled for Dec. 6 at the Libro Centre for 4 p.m… The annual Pink at the Rink game to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness will be played Oct. 30 in Tecumseh against Essex.
Admirals suffer defeats in Lakeshore and Mooretown
By Fred Groves
Comments