Flyers push Vipers to brink of elimination
The Leamington Flyers have the top-seeded LaSalle Vipers on the ropes.
The fourth-seeded Flyers beat the Vipers 3-2 at the Vollmer Complex on Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final series in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The Flyers head home for Game 6 on Thursday with a chance to eliminate the Vipers.
Josh Pope-Ferguson and Zach Guilbeault put the Flyers up 2-0 after the first period. Twice the Vipers pulled to within a goal, but could not produce the equalizer.
Dallas Maurovic also scored for the Flyers, who got a 39-save performance from goalie Connor Meyerink. Jack Bowler and Tyler Russell replied for the Vipers, who held a 41-23 advantage in shots.
EXPRESS RALLY FOR WIN
Warren Ward hit a three-point shot with five seconds to play to lift the Windsor Express to a 111110 win over the Orangeville A’s in double overtime on Wednesday at the WFCU Centre.
Ward finished with 33 points for the Express (13-13), who have won three straight games. Nick Evans added 16 points against the A’s (1117). Juan Pattillo had 15 points and 16 rebounds, Darren Duncan finished with 10 points and 14 assists and Maurice Jones added 10 points for Windsor, which rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second overtime.
NOBLES EYE MEDAL
The Belle River Nobles will play for a medal on Thursday at the OFSAA boys’ A/AA hockey championship in Fort Frances.
The No. 4-seeded Nobles advanced to the medal round on Wednesday with a 4-2 win over the No. 5-ranked Campbellford Flames in the quarter-finals.
Tied at 2-2 after two periods, the Nobles scored two unanswered goals in the third period to win it. Owen Meyerink scored twice for Belle River, with Eric Larue and Colton O’Brien adding single goals.
Earlier Wednesday, the Nobles rallied with two goals in the third period to tie No. 6 Clinton St. Anne Eagles 2-2 and clinch first place in the team’s pool with two wins and a tie.
Captain Cody McFarlane scored on a penalty shot with 34 seconds to play to tie the game. Ryan Nicholson also scored to start the comeback.
SAINTS TAKE TWO
The No. 4-ranked St. Anne Saints won both pool games on Wednesday as the OFSAA boys’ AAA hockey championship got underway in Mississauga.
Dylan Weston scored with 58 seconds left in regulation and Evan Prince added an empty-net goal as St. Anne beat No. 9 Richmond Hill Ste. Therese 5-3. Christian Luciani, Ryan Gagnier and Preston Corp also scored for St. Anne.
The Saints opened play with a 6-1 win over No. 15 Barrie Bear Creek. Mat Maggio scored twice for St. Anne, with single goals going to Matt Smith, Zane Dalpe, Weston and Stephane Crevier.
WILDCATS EARN SPLIT
The No. 14-ranked Villanova Wildcats split a pair of games on the opening day of play Wednesday at the OFSAA girls’ AAA hockey championship in Mississauga.
Allison Langille, Brooke Gibson and Avery Mertz scored single goals as the Wildcats scored a 3-1 win over No. 8 Napanee.
The Wildcats opened the tournament with a heartbreaking loss to No. 3 Arva Medway, which won the bronze medal last year.