Leblanc’s overtime marker lifts Patriots to victory

MOUNT FOREST – Brody Leblanc’s goal in overtime lifted the Mount Forest Patriots to a 6-5 win over the Goderich Flyers in Provincial Junior Hockey League play Sunday at the Mount Forest and District Community Centre.

The win was the fifth in a row for the Patriots and their second of the Family Day holiday weekend.

The goal also capped off a comeback that saw the Patriots rally from a 4-3 deficit at the end of the second period.

The Patriots led 2-1 at the end of the first before Goderich rallied in the second.

The winning goal was the fourth of the game for league scoring leader Leblanc. Jordan Leitch and Jaxon Gawel also scored for the Patriots while Charlie Mckenzie, Seth Huygen, Austin Griffin and Matt McLellan each had two assists. Single assists were awarded to Aaron McGuirk, Conner Willmets and Will Lewis.

Dax Vadder, Carson Stutzman, Mitch Perry, Jackson Andrews and Trent Carter had a goal apiece for Goderich while Leland Weber and Vadder each collected two assists. Getting one assist apiece were Kyle Smeltzer, Jeremy Hamilton, Cooper Gaul, Cohen Lesouder and Andrews.

The Patriots outshot the Flyers 49-24 and were 2-for-4 on their power play while Goderich was scoreless on three power plays.

Starter Michael Purkhart had 11 saves in two periods for Mount Forest and Marshall Nicholls had nine in the second period and overtime combined. Logan Bromley had 43 saves for Goderich.

• Guelph Sports Journal