Another close one between Patriots and Whalers

FERGUS – Another one-goal Provincial Junior Hockey League game between the Mount Forest Patriots and the Fergus Whalers.

All the scoring was done in the first 10 minutes of the game as the Patriots edged the Whalers 2-1 Sunday at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.

It was the fifth of six games between the teams to have a single-goal difference. The other was decided by a pair of goals.

Boden Brimmell opened the scoring for Fergus at 6:50 of the first period. Ty Anselmini and Mark Pyzowski drew assists on the goal.

Seth Huygen tied it for Mount Forest 1:28 later and Will Lewis struck for the eventual game-winner 1:25 after Huygen’s goal. Jaxon Gawel assisted on both goals while the scorers also assisted on each other’s goal.

The Patriots outshot the Whalers 34-29 thanks to a 13-8 advantage in the second period. Both teams were scoreless on six power plays.

Bradley Boville had 32 saves for Fergus and Marshall Nicholls had 28 for Mount Forest.

Hanover Barons lead the Pollock Division at 31-4-0-2 while the Patriots are second at 27-7-2-0. Kincardine Bulldogs are third at 20-11-2-5, Walkerton Capitals are fourth at 17-16-2-2, the Whalers are fifth at 15-15-3-2, Wingham Ironmen are sixth at 15-17-3-1, Mitchell  Hawks are seventh at 10-22-3-2 and Goderich Flyers are eighth at 3-30-1-2.

The Whalers have seven games to go in their inaugural regular season. Their next three are on the road including Friday at Hanover at 8 p.m. and Saturday at Goderich at 8 p.m.

The Patriots have six game to go in their regular season including their next three at home at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex. Those are their final home games of the regular season. Next game is at home Saturday at 8 p.m. against Wingham.

All eight teams in the division qualify for the playoffs. Mount Forest is likely to play Mitchell in the division quarter-finals while Fergus looks like having a series against either Kincardine or Walkerton.

• Guelph Sports Journal