Rivalry heats up
Red Wings, Vipers battle in penalty-filled IJHL game
ABRAM-VILLAGE – The most intense rivalry in the Island Junior Hockey League was rekindled on Sunday afternoon.
The host Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings blanked the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers 3-0 in a penaltyfilled game at the Evangeline Recreation Centre. The game featured three fights in the first period and a heated exchange of words between Red Wings head coach Nathan DesRoches and Vipers assistant coach Trent Leard, which resulted in the two coaches receiving game misconducts.
Overall, veteran referees Thane Arsenault and Jonny Martin assessed nine minors, one 10-minute misconduct, four fighting majors, four game misconducts and one double-game misconduct against the Vipers. The Red Wings were whistled for nine minors, three 10-minute misconducts, three fighting majors, five game misconducts and one double-game misconduct.
Chandler Wood’s goal 13 seconds into the game was all the offence required for Red Wings goaltender Luke Oliver, who registered a 27-save shutout. Spencer Groom and Chasse Gallant also scored for the league-leading Red Wings, who improved to 24-3-2 (won-lostovertime losses) while opening up a 14-point lead over the secondplace Vipers (18-8-0).
Calvin McRae (2), Isaac Callaghan (2), Isaac Knox and Silas Handrahan added assists for the Abram-Village-based Red Wings.
Caleb Coyle faced 35 shots in Kensington’s net.
League action resumes on Tuesday as the Vipers host the Moncton Vitos in an interlocking game with the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League. Puck drop at Credit Union Centre is 7:30 p.m.
The Vipers and Red Wings have one more regular-season meeting in Kensington on March 3 at 7 p.m.