Last-minute goal lifts Mount Forest Patriots to win

MOUNT FOREST – Brody Leblanc’s goal with 51 seconds to go in the third period gave the Mount Forest Patriots a 3-2 victory over the Mitchell Hawks in the third game of their Provincial Junior Hockey League playoff game Tuesday at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex.

The Patriots have won all three games in the best-of-seven Pollock Division quarter-final.

Leblanc’s winning goal came eight seconds after Mitchell had tied the score.

All five goals in the game were scored in the third period with four of them coming in the second half of the period.

Mount Forest scored the first two goals of the period before Mitchell squared the score with two goals just less than three minutes apart, the second one coming with 59 seconds to go in regulation time.

Leblanc’s winning goal was his second of the game as he had also scored the opening goal while Owen Tovell scored the other goal. Seth Huygen, Jared Rowe and Connor Paige each had an assist.

Isaac Nickel and Callan Ferguson scored for Mitchell while Nickel also had an assist.

Mitchell outshot the Patriots 42-31 while neither team managed a power-play goal, Mitchell on five power plays and Mount Forest on two.

Marshall Nicholls had 40 saves for the Patriots while Tomas Brintnell had 28 for Mitchell.

Fourth game of the series is set for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Arena.

• Guelph Sports Journal