Late goals lift Whalers to win to tie semifinal series

HANOVER – The Fergus Whalers tallied twice in the final two minutes of the third period to double the Hanover Barons 4-2 in the second game of their Provincial Junior Hockey League Pollock Division semifinal Friday at Hanover’s P and H Centre.

The win by the Whalers tied the best-of-seven at a victory apiece.

After a scoreless first period, the teams were tied 2-2 at the end of the second.

That score remained until Tyler Ewald scored for Fergus with 1:32 to go and Jacob Lesser added an empty-netter with five seconds to play.

Lesser and Ty Anselmini scored for Fergus in the second period while assists in the game went to Jett Morningstar, Andrew McClure, Henry Turner, Ryan McDougall and Anselmini.

Patrick Brown and Jacob Duggan hit for a goal apiece for Hanover while Payton McIsaac, Ryan Colquhoun, Alex McGillivray and Kyle Maloney each had one assist.

The Barons outshot the Whalers 35-30 thanks to a 9-4 advantage in the opening period. The teams took 14 shots apiece in the second and 12 each in the third.

Bradley Boville had 33 saves for the Whalers while Derek Hartley had 26 for Hanover.

Both teams had a power-play goal, Hanover on four power plays and Fergus on five.

Game 3 is slated for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.

The Whalers are also to host Game 4 there Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.

• Guelph Sports Journal