Last-minute goal lifts Patriots to win over Whalers

MOUNT FOREST – The Mount Forest Patriots put an end to their three-game losing streak as they edged the Fergus Whalers 4-3 in Provincial Junior Hockey League play Saturday at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex.

While Mount Forest grabbed a two-goal lead in the opening period, the Patriots needed an unassisted goal by Brody Leblanc with 54 seconds to go in the third period to claim the win.

Mount Forest led 2-0 at the end of the first period and 3-1 after the second before the Whalers tied it with two consecutive goals in the third.

Conner Willmets, Matthew Weiler, Charlie Mckenzie and Leblanc scored a goal apiece for Mount Forest while Reid Caswell, Jared Rowe, Owen Tovell, Austin Griffin, Jordan Leitch and Will Lewis each had an assist.

Scoring for Fergus were Tyler Ewald, Mark Pyzowski and JJ Lavigne. Ty Anselmini set up two of the goals while single assists were awarded to Kyle Parsons, Jacob Lesser, Jack McDonald and Henry Turner.

The Whalers outshot the Patriots 45-27 and neither team netted a power-play goal, Fergus on four power plays and Mount Forest on three.

Marshall Nicholls had 42 saves for the Patriots while Bradley Boville had 23 for the Whalers.

The Patriots and Whalers have met five times this season and four of the games have been decided by a single goal. The other one had a two-goal difference. Mount Forest has won four of the meetings, two in overtime.

Hanover Barons lead the Pollock Division at 27-4-0-2 while the Patriots are second at 24-6-2-0. They’re followed by the Kincardine Bulldogs at 18-10-1-5, Walkerton Capitals at 14-14-2-2, the Whalers at 13-13-3-2, Wingham Ironmen at 13-15-2-1, Mitchell Hawks at 9-19-3-2 and Goderich Flyers at 3-26-1-2.

The Whalers are to host Wingham Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex while the Patriots are to Mitchell next Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex.

• Guelph Sports Journal