Rough weekend for Wild
Two back-to-back loses, including season’s home opener Saturday night
It was a rocky start to the regular season for the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild as they lost back-to-back games over the weekend, including their home opener on Saturday night. The Fredericton Caps downed the Wild 2-1 in the team’s New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League home opener at Community Gardens Complex and followed the 4-3 loss Friday night on the road in Saint John.
FREDERICTION OPENS SCORING
The Fredericton Caps opened up the scoring against the Kensington Wild on a goal from their captain Cole Easton seven minutes into the first period. “They’re long periods so we can’t hit the panic button right away. We needed to find our legs and keep our heads and play,” said Wild head coach Kyle Dunn said after the game. The two teams exchanged chances in the opening period but the Fredericton tally would be the period’s only goal. Kensington would storm back early in the second when Wild captain Taylor Read set up Coleton Perry tying the contest at 1-1. With less than five minutes left in the game, the pressure was on for both teams to score, but it would be Fredericton that would step up, scoring late in the game after a shot got tipped and slid past the Wild goalie Caleb Coyle.
POST GAME
After the game, Dunn said it wasn’t the outcome they wanted, but assured it was only the beginning of the season. “We’ve only had one practice as a full team together so we haven’t found our groove.”
“We didn’t get off to our best start tonight, but I think we got to our feet in the second period. It was tight the rest of the game.” Dunn surmised that his team spent too much in the defensive zone. “I think we played too much in our zone, and that’s something we need to work on, passing the puck moving around. It’s going to come with practice.” For the next game, Dunn and the team are going to practice all areas of the game. “I think every area can be improved right now. We really want to get this into a transition game and be our best.” Fredericton goalie Zack LeBlanc would be credited, saving 42 of 43 shots on goal while Coyle stopped 19 of 21 shots for the Wild.
FRIDAY NIGHT’S RESULTS
On Friday night, the first period proved to be the difference for the Saint John Vitos against the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild.The Vitos jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes, and managed to pull out a 4-3 victory in the regularseason openers for both teams in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League. At the Q-Plex, Brett McGee (2), Ian Keating and Caleb Kean scored for Saint John, which took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. Captain Tayler Read, Colby MacArthur and Evan Gallant countered for the Wild, who received assists from Bennett MacArthur, Clark Webster and Coleton Perry.
Overall, the Vitos outshot the Wild 28-16. Luke Oliver was between the pipes for Kensington. The Wild will be looking for retribution against the Vitos, as Kensington’s next game is at home on Saturday, Oct. 1, against Saint John. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.