Hespeler Shamrocks fall to division leaders in OT
WOODSTOCK – The Hespeler Shamrocks surrendered a goal in the final minute of overtime as they were nipped 4-3 by the division-leading Woodstock Navy Vets in Provincial Junior Hockey League play Friday night at the Woodstock District Community Complex.
Woodstock led 2-1 at the end of the first period before Hespeler tied it with the lone goal of the second. The Shamrocks shot ahead with 8:17 to go in the third before Woodstock pulled even four and a half minutes later.
Ethan Szabo scored the winner for the Navy Vets on an unassisted effort at 6:10 of the seven-minute overtime period.
Boden White had a pair of goals for Hespeler while Brandon Lamb also scored. Jack Restauri had two assists while single assists were recorded by Justin George, Braeden Tyler, Mathew Styka and Kwang Sheng-Luu.
The winning goal was Szabo’s second goal of the game while Mitch Penner and Brady Carne also scored. Brodie Kearns assisted on two of the goals while single assists were awarded to Davin Gray, Nolan Brett, Carne, Matt Brooks and Jordan Thomson.
The Shamrocks outshot the Navy Vets 36-31 and went 1-for-5 on their power play while Woodstock went 1-for-3 with a manpower advantage.
Lucas Hillert had 27 saves for Hespeler while Tyler Bouck had 33 for Woodstock.
Woodstock tops the Doherty Division at 20-2-1-0 while Hespeler is fifth in the seven-team division at 8-12-1-0. New Hamburg Firebirds are second at 16-6-1-0 while the Tavistock Braves are third at 12-7-0-2, Norwich Merchants fourth at 7-10-4-1, Wellesley Applejacks sixth at 7-11-1-0 and Paris Titans seventh at 4-17-1-1.
Friday’s game was the first game of a three-in-three weekend for the Shamrocks. They’re to play the New Hamburg Firebirds at the Wilmot Recreation Centre in Baden Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and host Tavistock Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the Hespeler Memorial Arena.
- Guelph Sports Journal