Division leaders rally to double Fergus Whalers

FERGUS – The Fergus Whalers surrendered six consecutive goals to squander an early lead as they were doubled 8-4 by the Pollock Division-leading Hanover Barons in Provincial Junior Hockey League play Friday at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.

Fergus led 3-0 at the end of the first period while Hanover was up 6-3 by the end of the second.

The Barons struck for five goals in the second period when they outshot the Whalers 20-9.

Boden Brimmell, Ethan Meeker, Keegan Clarke and Tyler Ewald had a goal apiece for Fergus while assists went to Joshua Russell, Andrew McClure, Jacob Lesser, JJ Lavigne and Kyle Parsons.

Alex McGillivray had a hat trick for Hanover while single goals were added by Curtis Arnold, Erick Gulutzen, Joey Stimac, Kyle Maloney and Ryan Colquhoun. Payton McIsaac and Spencer Davidson collected two assists apiece while Aaron Dukeshire, McGillivray, Cam Angst, Drayton Howell, Maloney, Patrick Brown, Ryan Goetz and Wyatt Cayley each had one assist.

Hanover outshot Fergus 39-25 and went 3-for-8 on its power play while the Whalers were 2-for-5 with a manpower advantage.

Bradley Boville had 31 saves for Fergus and Derek Hartley had 21 for Hanover.

The result leaves Fergus in fourth at 14-14-3-2 and Hanover in first at 28-4-0-2.

The Whalers are to host the eighth-place Goderich Flyers (3-27-1-2) Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.

• Guelph Sports Journal