Red Wings rolling

Western opens eight-point gap against Kensington after 10th straight junior B win

The Western Arsenault’s Fish Mart Red Wings opened up an eight-point lead over the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers in the Island Junior Hockey League standings heading into a big home-andhome series between the two arch-rivals this week.

The Red Wings defeated the Eastern Maniacs 7-3 in one of two games played on Sunday. The Vipers were unable to keep pace after dropped a 5-3 decision to the A&S Scrap Metal Metros.

Western is 15-3-0 after winning 10 straight games. Second-place Kensington, which has played two fewer games, sits at 11-5-0.

The teams meet twice this week, which began with the annual Boxing Day match in Kensington Wednesday. The teams then battle at the Evangeline Recreation Centre in Abram-Village Sunday at 2:15 p.m.

Red Wings 7, Maniacs 3

At the Evangeline Recreation Centre, Isaac Knox scored twice and assisted on two others to pace the Red Wings’ offence. Chandler Wood (1-1), Silas Handrahan (1-1), Isaac Callaghan (1-1), Tristan Cahill and Dawson McCormack also found the back of the net. Lucas Beaulieu (2), Calvin McRae (2), Alex Morrissey and Evan Millman added helpers. Chris Sear, Dawson Palmer and Eddie Jenkins countered for the Souris-based Maniacs (0-14-0).

Metros 5, Vipers 3

At Credit Union Centre in Kensington, the teams were tied 1-1 after the first period, and 2-2 at the end of 40 minutes but the Metros scored three third-period goals to go up 5-2.

The Vipers closed out the scoring with one second remaining. Taylor Runighan (2-1), Alex Hambly (1-1), Colin Koughan and Cale Pierce provided goals for the Metros (9-10-0). Tanner Lund (3), Alex Hall and Dylan MacDonald chipped in with helpers.

For the Vipers, Garrett Murray, affiliated player Ryan Richards and Dylan Wheatley found the back of the net. Kyle Pinksen, Riley Gallant and Jonathan Arsenault collected assists. Winning goaltender Ben Parent stopped 41 of 44 shots. Caleb Coyle allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Vipers’ goal.

Vipers 4, Maniacs 1

On Saturday in Souris, Riley Gallant scored twice while Logan Vandervelden (1-1) and Garrett Murray (1-1) rounded out Kensington’s scoring.

Jesse Jay, Parker Ronahan, Nick Trainor, CJ McCardle and Dylan Wheatley picked up helpers.

Nathan Cahill, assisted by Cole Jenkins and Dawson Palmer, answered for Eastern.

The score was tied 1-1 after the first period, and the Vipers took a 3-1 advantage into the second intermission.

Winning goaltender Cameron Visser turned aside 29 of 30 shots. Noah Laybolt allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Eastern cage.