OPENING AT HOME
Charlottetown Islanders begin Round 3 Friday against Blainville-Boisbriand
Helmets went flying as the Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings celebrate their Island Junior Hockey League title Tuesday in Kensington.
The Red Wings defeated the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers 3-2 to win Game 7 and end the Vipers seven-year run as the league champs.
Fans lined the rink, shoulder to shoulder, as Kensington met Western at Community Gardens.
Strong defence from both teams resulted in a scoreless first period and a restless crowd.
Both teams stepped onto the ice with energy in the second, and five minutes into the period, Kensington forward
Campbell Gallant scored on Red Wings goalie Bronson Banks.
Western to respond five minutes later, as Chasse Gallant beat Vipers goalie Grant Grady
to tie the game.
With six minutes left in the middle stanza, Cole Hackett scored to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead heading to the third.
The Vipers tried but couldn’t fight off the Red Wings as Abel Arsenault put a third goal away 3:40 into the third.
Feeling the pressure in the third, the Vipers responded. Cameron Roberts gave the Vipers fans hope, scoring on a power play with three minutes remaining to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Pulling the goalie and taking a time-out, the Vipers took their chances with 1:21 left on the clock, but they couldn’t cash the equalizer.
When the buzzer rang, the crowd was deafening.
Logan Vandervelden had two assists for Kensington and Ben Keefe one. Robbie Fraser and Connor Morrissey had helpers for Western.
Banks made 35 saves for the win while Grady stopped 39 shots in the loss.