Fergus Whalers ahead early on way to series victory

WALKERTON – The Fergus Whalers grabbed a lead in the first period that they wouldn’t relinquish in a 5-2 Provincial Junior Hockey League playoff series-clinching victory over the Walkerton Capitals.

The win gives the Whalers a four-game sweep of Walkerton in their first ever playoff appearance as this is the inaugural season for the Fergus squad. They finished the regular season fourth in the Pollock Division while Walkerton was fifth.

Wednesday at the Walkerton Community Centre, the Whalers led 3-0 at the end of the first period and 3-2 after the second.

Henry Turner had a pair of goals for Fergus while single tallies were added by Jacob Lesser, Boden Brimmell and Joshua Russell. Ty Anselmini assisted on four of the goals while Tyler Ewald, Andrew McClure, Brimmell and Zach Nault each had one assist.

Austin Drew and Graham Gateman scored for Walkerton while Josh Johnston assisted on both goals and Daniel Norton had one assist.

The Whalers outshot the Capitals 36-23 and went 2-for-6 on their power play while Walkerton went 1-for-7.

Bradley Boville had 21 saves for Fergus while Vance Meyer had 31 for Walkerton.

The fourth-place Whalers advance to the best-of-seven divisional semifinals where they could play any of the three teams that finished ahead of them in the regular season.

• Guelph Sports Journal