Hespeler Shamrocks score first, but fall to New Hamburg

BADEN – The Hespeler Shamrocks scored the first goal of the game, but the New Hamburg Firebirds came back to score a 5-1 win to grab a 2-0 lead in their Provincial Junior Hockey League Doherty Division semifinal Friday night at the Wilmot Recreation Complex.

The opening two games of the best-of-seven series have been played in Baden while the nest two are to go in Hespeler.

The Shamrocks scored the only goal of the first period while New Hamburg replied with two goals in the second and the other three in the third.

Andrew Harris fired home the lone goal for the Shamrocks while Jack Restauri and Braeden Tyler assisted on the goal.

Aidan Reid had a pair of goals for New Hamburg while single markers were added by Owen Fischer, Tyler Reid and Owen Sculthorp. Antonio Pasqualino had three assists while Anthony Pede had two and Cohen Van Zuilen, Kyle Kraemer, Jake Thompson, Justin McManus and Brendan George each had one.

The Firebirds outshot the Shamrocks 38-17 as Hespeler was held to eight shots after the first period. New Hamburg also went 3-for-7 on its power play while the Shamrocks were scoreless on five power plays.

Lucas Hillert started in goal for the Shamrocks, but was relieved by David Hanley at 11:19 of the third after New Hamburg’s fifth goal. Hillert had 29 saves and Hanley had four. Graeme Noye had 16 saves for the Firebirds.

Game 3 of the series is to go Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the Hespeler Memorial Arena while Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at Hespeler.

• Guelph Sports Journal