Pride lose a close one
Moncton scores two late goals to defeat Wild
Dalton Dunn scored the game-winning goal eight minutes into the third period Sunday as the Saint John Vitos defeated the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride 4-1 at MacLauchlan Arena.
The Vitos notched a pair of empty-net goals in the New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Major Midget AAA Hockey League victory.
Cole Fraser and captain Caleb Kean each had a goal and an assist in the victory while Connor Richard also scored. Drew Elliott had a pair of helpers while Zach Alchorn added one.
Connor McGregor’s powerplay goal in the second period tied the game 1-1. Nick Reeves and Cole Larkin drew the assists.
Rylan Holder earned the win while Erik MacInnis took the loss in his first game this season after knee surgery.
The Vitos improved to 107-0 (won-lost-overtime losses) while the Pride is 5-9-1.
Saturday
The Moncton Flyers proved why they are the league’s top team on Saturday night.
After giving up the tying goal with 2:15 remaining in regulation time, the Flyers did not panic and promptly went on to score twice in the final 1:16 of regulation time to defeat the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild 7-5 at Community Gardens. Moncton’s final goal came into an empty net with one second remaining.
The Flyers led 1-0 after the first period, and the teams entered the final 20 minutes tied 3-3.
The teams then exchanged one-goal leads in the third period, and Yanick LeBlanc’s goal at 18:46 proved to be the winner. LeBlanc scored just after Wild goaltender Caleb Coyle had robbed the Flyers from point-blank range, but the puck came out the other side and LeBlanc, who had all kinds of time, made no mistake scoring up high.
Nash Smith scored a hat trick to lead the Flyers (143-1). Miguel Poirier, Yannick Bastarache and Cole Cormier rounded out Moncton’s scoring.
Dixon MacLeod (1-1), Frank Fortin (1-1), Ryan Richards, Isaac Callaghan and Evan Gallant provided goals for the Wild (9-5-1). Chase Gaudette (2), Clark Webster (2), Colby MacArthur (2) and William Proud chipped in with assists.
Both goaltenders – Coyle and the Flyers’ Daniel Thompson – had a busy night as Moncton held a 52-48 shotson-goal advantage.