Home opener Oct. 19

Valley Maple Leafs suffer third period collapse against East Hants Penguins

The East Hants Penguins exploded for four third period goals Sept. 28 in Lantz to defeat their arch-rival the Valley Maple Leafs 7-3.

The Penguins won despite being outshot 38-30 by the Leafs, as the Leafs held a 14-10 advantage in the first period, 12-9 in the second and 12-11 in the third.

The Penguins jumped out in front 2-0 on goals by Quinn MacDonald and Matthew Peruzza, who connected on the power play with 1:18 left in the opening frame. In the second period Adam Peruzza, on another power-play, put the Penguins up 3-0 only to see the Valley Maple Leafs plug a fuse into their scoring arsenal and fire back with three consecutive goals from John Chambers, Nathan Clarke and Cody Burghardt to tie the game. Clarke and Burghardt’s goals came just 1:33 apart.

The third period began when Kyle Randall scored the Pens’ third power-play goal of the game with only 3:54 gone. Jesse Hamer added the first of his two third period goals. Tyler Randall added the Pens’ sixth goal of the contest 1:32 after Hamer’s first goal.

Hamer finished the scoring with the seventh marker of the game with 6:59 to play in the third period.

Hamer, Quinn MacDonald and Adam Peruzza all had three point nights for East Hants in a chippy affair that saw 110 minutes in penalties handed out, including five misconducts. Ryan Huestis was in fine form in the East Hants net stopping 35 of 38 shots for a .921 save percentage.

The Leafs were scheduled to play in Cole Harbour on Oct. 5 and in Brookfield on Oct. 9 in further Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League action.

On Oct. 12, the Leafs take on the Port Hawkesbury Strait Pirates, and on Oct. 19, they host their home opener at the Hants Exhibition Arena at 7:30 p.m. against the Eskasoni Junior Eagles. On Oct. 22, they visit the Sackville Blazers for their first bout of the year with that club.