IJHL
Game 5 in Kensington on Sunday afternoon
The Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers and Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings will meet in Game 5 of the best-of-seven Island Junior Hockey League championship series at Community Gardens in Kensington on Sunday. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. The Vipers took a 2-1 lead into Game 4 at the Evangeline Recreation Centre on Friday night.
It was more of the same in the Island Junior Hockey League final series Friday night. The Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings and Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers required overtime for the third straight game.
In fact, the teams were tied 2-2 and in the third extra period at deadline time. For an update on the game, be sure to check www.journalpioneer.com.
The Vipers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series into Friday’s game, which was played before a full house at the Evangeline Recreation Centre. The teams will have little time to recover as Game 5 is scheduled for Community Gardens in Kensington on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Opens scoring
The Vipers opened the scoring on a great individual effort by captain Jordan Mayhew early in the first period. Mayhew cut to the net off the left wing, went across the crease and roofed a backhander over the left shoulder of Red Wings goaltender Chris Gallant. The Red Wings pulled even at 6:28 of the second period as Willie Gaudet beat Vipers goaltender Grant Grady with a onetimer.
Easton Smith’s goal at 12:53 of the third period gave the Vipers a 2-1 lead. Smith intercepted a Red Wings’ clearing attempt, moved into the slot and beat Gallant high over his right shoulder on the stick side. The Red Wings evened the score as Jason Gallant broke in on the left wing, cut across in front of the goal and slid the puck past Grady at 16:28. Both goaltenders were sharp for their respective teams throughout the entire game, and Gallant came up with numerous key saves in the opening period to prevent Kensington from building on its 1-0 lead.