It was a four-point weekend for the Kensington Wild.
MacLeod nets hat trick; McQuaid scores first two goals in win over Fredericton
It was mission accomplished for the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild.
The Wild swept back-to-back weekend games in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League, defeating the Saint John Vitos 6-3 on the road Friday night and the Fredericton Caps 10-2 in Kensington on Saturday. “Any time you have a two-game weekend, the goal always is to come out with four points,” said second-year Wild forward Dixon MacLeod, who scored a hat trick against Fredericton. “Everybody battled hard.”
Kensington, which is 7-2-1 (wonlost-overtime losses) and will play its next four games on the road over the next two weekends, sits in second place, two points up on the Vitos (6-5-1).
Two goals
At Credit Union Centre, rookie defenceman Matt McQuaid of Charlottetown scored his first two regular-season goals this year.
“I thought I had a pretty good game, and was able to score a couple of goals,” said McQuaid in assessing his performance in a post-game interview with the Journal Pioneer.
McQuaid, 15, said his goal is to contribute in both ends of the rink.
“I try to be an offensive defenceman and jump into the play whenever I can, but also (concentrate) on the defensive side,” said McQuaid.
Zac Arsenault (1-3), Ryan Richards (1-2), Bennett MacArthur (1-2), Simon Hughes (1-1) and Landon Clow rounded out Kensington’s scoring. Zach Biggar and Reid Peardon each had a pair of assists.
“Everybody worked together as a team,” said MacLeod, who was denied by Caps goaltender Frederic Plourde on a third-period penalty shot. “We worked really hard in the defensive zone getting pucks out on the first chance. Everybody was playing strong.”
The 16-year-old MacLeod, who is from Cornwall and is an assistant captain, talked about his expectations in Year 2 with the Wild: “I just want to be there when my team needs me. I’m more of an offensive
guy than a defensive guy, but I can play the defensive side, too.
“I just want to be a leader and show the rookies how hard you have to work to be successful.” Malcolm Burns and Joshua Nadeau replied for the Capitals (34-2). After the teams entered the second period tied 1-1, the Wild erupted for four second-period goals to take a 5-2 lead into the second intermission. Overall, Kensington outshot Fredericton 35-18. Winning goaltender was Josh Smith.
Wild 6 Vitos 3
At the Q-Plex in Quispamsis, N.B., Colby MacArthur (2-1), Bennett MacArthur (1-2), Clow (1-1), William Proud (1-1) and Isaac Wilson scored for the Wild.
Drew Elliott (1-1), Carter McCloskey and Chris Keyes replied for the third-place Vitos, who led 2-1 after the opening period but trailed 2-1 following 40 minutes. Chad Arsenault turned in a 35-save effort in earning the goaltending win. Saint John goaltender Jeremi Delaquis faced 22 shots.