Lynx, Flames win regular season openers

Craig, Steele have big efforts vs. Crunch

The 2017-18 Razzy’s P.E.I. Junior C Hockey League regular season opened on two fronts Saturday night.

The defending-champion Southside Lynx doubled the visiting Tignish Perry’s Construction Aces 4-2, and North River Flames outscored the Summerside Cover All Construction Crunch 10-5.

Lynx 4 Aces 2

At the South Shore Actiplex, the host Lynx spotted the Aces a 2-0 lead after one period, before scoring twice in each of the final two frames.

Daniel Collister (1-1), Nick Vander-Velden (1-1), Brady Vander-Velden (1-1) and Frank Watts scored for the Crapaud-based Lynx.

Brandon Forsythe and Dawson Sellick found the back of the net for the Aces.

Winning goaltender Sean MacPhee stopped 20 of 22 shots, and Kristen Clemens turned aside 26 of 29. Southside’s fourth goal came shorthanded into an empty net with six seconds remaining.

Flames 10 Crunch 5

At the APM Centre in Cornwall, Matt Craig had three goals and four assists while Keirsten Steele scored twice and helped set up four others to pace the Flames.

Logan Aylward (2-1), Ethan MacFadyen (1-2), Blake Gallant and Brandon Watts rounded out North River’s scoring. Alex Young and Connor Andrews each added two assists.

For the Crunch, Matt MacKinnon netted a hat trick while singles came off the sticks of Ryan Sonier and Tanner Jamieson. Brandon Arsenault had a pair of helpers.

The Flames, who outshot the Crunch 37-23, built period leads of 4-0 and 6-1.

Jed Walsh notched the goaltending win.