Win over Mounties sees Jacks’ record improve to 2-1

Dominant play early on sees Wellesley pot three in the opening frame en route to a 5-1 final in Paris

THE WELLESLEY APPLEJACKS ARE 2-1 in this young season, winning for the second time in a row via a 5-1 tally versus the Paris Mounties last Saturday.

The Jacks dominated the opening frame with three goals and never looked back.

Kyle Soper potted their team’s first at 9:45, assisted by Liam Hartman and Brady Gerber. Four minutes later, Hartman made it 2-0 with a goal of his own, assisted by Soper and Tomas Azzano.

“[Soper] is actually leading our team in scoring right now,” said head coach Brad Gerber. “He’s a very versatile player, Kyle. We got him from the Sugar Kings last year halfway through the year, so he’s played at a higher level. He can play defense and he can play forward as well, which is every coach’s dream, right? ... Not only is he getting points for us, but he’s also playing a very good defensive role right now.”

Will Martin (Corey Restoule and Zach Ribeiro) rounded out the period to send the team to room up 3-0. Shots were 12-8 in favour of the visitors.

“I thought our goalie played really well, Ryan Hergott. He made the key saves that he needed to and kept the game at 3-0. Again I thought we played a patient game with defense first, and we capitalized on a couple of their mistakes after the second,” said Gerber.

“We had a really good start. I thought we carried the play in the first period and then got out to the 3-0 lead, which was really good on the road. The second period, obviously Paris being the team that they are, they’ve got some really good returning players on that team, they picked it up a notch and they played much better in the second.”

The Mounties pushed back in the second, peppering Hergott with 17 shots but failing to make any of them count. The Jacks, however, potted two of the nine they launched at Davis McLean.

Team forward Seasmus Mooney scored the team’s fourth point with a power play, supported by Ribeiro and defenseman Kyle Fischer; while forward Sean Pickering scored their fifth of the game with Brady Gerber lending the assist.

The Applejacks opened the final frame with a 5-0 lead on the scoreboard and not a lot to stop them. It was almost a perfect game, but for one unassisted goal by Mounties player Alex Ritchie. However, it would be the only break for the Mounties because the timer ran out with a final count of 5-1 in favour of the Applejacks.

Paris did outshoot the visitors 32-27 on the night, but to no avail.

“Ryan (Hergott) played a good game,” notes Gerber. “But also our defensemen and our forwards are really chipping in and helping out in our end, getting the puck out and doing the little things right. So it’s a team effort in the end.”

The 2-1 record thus far in the young season has the Jacks in third place in the South Doherty Division standings behind Tavistock and Woodstock, who are both 3-0.

With a win against the New Hamburg Firebirds, Wellesley will keep pace with leaders.

“It’s a close rival here (the Firebirds), just down Nafziger road. So every time we play New Hamburg it’s always an exciting game,” said the coach. “They’ve got quite a few new faces in their lineup this year, but at the same time they’re just a very good club and we have to prepare this week and practice and make sure we’re ready to go Friday.”

The New Hamburg game is being played just a short distance away at the Wilmot arena on September 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Jacks then head to Burford Saturday night to take on the Bulldogs.

“As long as we keep getting better and keep moving forward every game ... I think that’s what we’re striving for right now,” said Gerber.

“Obviously, it’s a long season and we want everybody to be on the same page and everybody playing the same game come play-off time. So far, very pleased- but we still have a lot of work to do.”