JUNIOR MINERS HOLD ON FOR WIN
Gouthro nets hat trick in 7-5 victory over Scotians
Gouthro nets hat trick in 7-5 victory over Scotians.
The Kameron Junior Miners were given a scare in the third period, but veteran Mark Gouthro came up big in the end.
The 21-year-old forward scored a hat trick, including a much-needed insurance tally on a breakaway late in the game in a 7-5 win over the Pictou County Scotians on Tuesday in front of 600 fans at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre. The win gave the Junior Miners a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Sid Rowe Division championship series.
“It was a big relief,” said Gouthro, of North Sydney, who streaked in and tucked the puck under Scotians’ netminder Brandon MacDonald. “We fell asleep for a bit there in the third, but good teams find a way to win and we just kept pushing. All four lines are going, so we made it work.”
The host side headed into the third period in the driver’s seat, up 6-2. The Junior Miners took advantage of some power plays, and scored four goals in the middle frame. Gouthro had a pair, while Shaun Neville and Tristan Nordine added singles in the second.
But the Scotians came out strong in the third period, and began to chip away at the lead. Ryan Dunfield, Jacob Pentz and Brendon Duff with his second of the game brought the visitors to within one, until Gouthro struck late to put the game on ice.
“They came out hard in the third and they had a really good push, and we had a scare for sure,” said Junior Miners head coach Ryan MacDougall. “But for the most part, we had a really good game. The second period was great. Our power play was really clicking. I was really happy with the outcome and the overall game.”
Jonathan Oakey and Sam Snow also scored in the first period for the Junior Miners, who can punch their ticket to the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League championship series with a win tonight in Trenton. Game 6 begins at 7 p.m.
“As much as it would be nice to win it at home, we want to finish it off (tonight),” said Gouthro, in his fourth and final season with the team.
Riley Cameron also scored for the Scotians.
In goal, Nick Walsh deflected 29 shots in the win, while MacDonald made 31 saves in the loss.
If necessary, Game 7 is slated for Sunday in Membertou. A time has not been announced.
The Sid Rowe Division champion will face the Fred Fox Division winner for the NSJHL championship. The Liverpool Privateers lead the defending league champion Valley Maple Leafs 2-1 in that best-of-seven series.
The league champion moves on to the 2017 Don Johnson Memorial Cup Atlantic Junior ‘B’ championship in Fredericton, April 25-30.