Hespeler Shamrocks nipped in Game 3 by Tavistock

CAMBRIDGE – The Hespeler Shamrocks suffered their first loss of their Provincial Junior Hockey League playoff series with the Tavistock Braves when they were edged 4-3 Sunday at the Hespeler Memorial Arena.

The Shamrocks had won the opening two games of the series.

Sunday, Tavistock scored the lone goal of the first period and led 3-1 after the second. The Braves scored the first goal of the third before Hespeler scored twice in the final seven minutes to narrow the gap. Boden White scored both of those goals for the Shamrocks, one on a power play and the other with Tavistock enjoying a manpower advantage.

Jeff Spark scored the other goal for the hosts while single assists were awarded to Ryan Fraser, Liam Nelson, Justin George, Michael Boyle-Ricupero and Braeden Tyler.

Scoring for Tavistock were Nicholas Hambly, Ryan Suljak, Ian Glendinning and Jacob Reid-Brant. Will Schlotzhauer assisted on two of the goals while Nicolas Thibodeau, Carson Bernhardt, Glendinning, Kaden Brame, Ethan Sharpe and Trent Davies each had one assist.

The Shamrocks outshot the Braves 39-34 thanks to a 16-6 advantage in the third period. Both teams went 1-for-8 on their power plays.

David Hanley had 30 saves for Hespeler while James Hopper had 36 for Tavistock.

Games 4 and 5 are both to be played at the Tavistock and District Recreation Centre. Game 4 is to go Wednesday and Game 5 is slated for Friday and both carry 7:30 p.m. game times.

• Guelph Sports Journal