Late goal preserves victory for Erin Outlaws
ERIN – Jesse Chidwick’s goal with 1:15 to go lifted the Erin Outlaws to a 6-5 victory over the Georgian Bay Applekings in Ontario Elite Hockey League play at the Centre 2000 arena Saturday night.
The win put an end to a five-game losing streak by the Outlaws and also lifted Erin into a tie with Georgian Bay for ninth in the 11-team league.
Both teams had scoring outbursts in the game as Minto scored four in a row including three goals in 1:34 in the second period. However, Georgian Bay responded with three goals in 2:32 with the first of that trio of goals coming 13 seconds after Minto’s four-goal run.
The teams were tied 1-1 at the end of the first period and 4-4 after the second.
Scoring one goal apiece for the Outlaws were Jacob Miller, Cameron Kokelj, Chidwick, Brad Holman, Liam Silva and Blake Lovell. Single assists went to Adrian Peric, Chris Lachance, Jordan Tutt, Chidwick, Holman, Luke Miehm, Lovell and Brad Humberstone.
Evan Buehler had three goals and an assist for the Applekings while Jack Underhill and Brody Cadeau also scored. Jacob Robitaille and Jamie Wise each collected three assists while Logan Blaser and Noah Calvert-Goetz had one apiece.
The Outlaws outshot the Applekings 43-39. Erin didn’t have a power play in the game while Georgian Bay had three and scored on one of them.
Jacob Tugnutt had 34 saves for Erin and Allan Menary had 37 for Georgian Bay.
The Outlaws and Applekings both have nine points with Erin having two games in hand. The Outlaws are at 4-8-0-1 and the Applekings are at 4-10-0-1. They’re a point behind the Milverton Four Wheel Drives (5-11-0-0) and four ahead of the Lucknow Lancers (2-11-0-1).
Ripley Wolves lead at 11-1-0-3 and are followed by the Cremore Coyotes at 11-2-0-1, Minto 81’s at 9-4-0-1, Saugeen Shore Winterhawks at 9-6-0-1, Seaforth Centenaires at 9-6-0-0, Tavistock Royals at 9-7-0-0 and Durham Thundercats at 8-5-0-1.
The Outlaws are to play three consecutive road games as they’re to play the Tavistock Royals at the Tavistock and District Recreation Centre Jan. 7 at 12 noon, the Applekings at the Beaver Valley Community Centre and Arena in Thornbury Jan. 12 at 8:30 p.m. and Milverton Four Wheel Drive at Milverton’s Perth East Recreation Centre Jan. 14 at 2 p.m.
Next home game for the Outlaws is set for Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Centre 2000 arena against the Lucknow Lancers.
- Guelph Sports Journal