Boxing Day hockey
Western breaks open close game with big second period in blasting Vipers 7-1
Island Junior Hockey League action on Boxing Day featured a matchup between the Kensington Vipers and Western Red Wings at the Evangeline Rec Centre.
Jason Gallant scored twice in 3:07 midway through the second period to lead the Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings to a 7-1 win over the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers Tuesday in Island Junior Hockey League action.
The Boxing Day contest was played before a large crowd at the Evangeline Rec Centre. The Vipers scored off the opening faceoff but that was the only blemish in Bronson Banks’ 32-save performance.
Despite outshooting the Vipers 17-5 in the opening period, the Red Wings were held to just one goal as Chasse Gallant (1-1) tied the game with 33 seconds remaining.
The Red Wings put the game away with five unanswered second period goals.
Gallant admitted the Vipers’ start took the Red Wings by surprise.
“I think that changed it up,” he said in praising his team’s response and stressing it was a whole team effort. “It’s not one star; it’s a bunch of hard workers.”
Red Wings coach Nathan DesRoches suggested the Christmas turkey overload might have hurt his team at the start, but he was proud with how his team answered. After a relatively quiet first period, the game became increasingly chippy.
The Red Wings drew 14 of the game’s 26 minors. Each team
“I think that changed it up. It’s not one star; it’s a bunch of hard workers.” Jason Gallant
was assessed a fighting major, a game misconduct and five 10-minute misconducts.
Riley Gallant had the Vipers’ lone goal with Campbell Gallant and Kyle Pinksen drawing assists. Also scoring for the Red Wings were Chasse Gallant (11), Cole Hackett (1-1), Dawson Sellick (1-1), Connor Morrissey (1-1) and Diego LeClair. Drawing assists were Isaac Knox, Spencer Groome, Curklan Fraser, Abel Arsenault, Silas Handrahan and Lucas Beaulieu.
Vipers starting goaltender Cameron Visser faced 32 shots through two periods while Caelen Ferguson allowed one Red Wings goal on 11 third period shots.