Patriots collect win with pair of goals in third period

MOUNT FOREST – The Mount Forest Patriots struck for a pair of goals in the third period as they doubled the Wingham Ironmen 4-2 in Provincial Junior Hockey League play Saturday night at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex.

The teams were tied 1-1 at the end of the first period and 2-2 after the second period.

Brody Leblanc hit for a natural hat trick with three consecutive goals. That hat trick started at 6:29 of the second period that tied the score and then he scored at 10:47 and 19:09 of the third period.

Austin Griffin scored the other goal for the Patriots. Matt McLellan, Leblanc, Will Lewis, Jaxon Gawel, Owen Tovell and Connor Paige each had an assist.

Micah Kraayenbrink and Nigel Kreager scored for Wingham while assists went to Ethan Smith, Darcy Scott and Noah Bloemberg.

The Patriots outshot the Ironmen 32-30 and went 2-for-4 on their power play while Wingham was scoreless on five power plays.

The goaltenders, Marshall Nicholls of Mount Forest and Garrett Golley of Wingham, each had 28 saves.

Hanover Barons lead the Pollock Division at 11-0-0-1 while the Kincardine Bulldogs are second at 8-3-1-2 and the Patriots and the Walkerton Capitals are tied for third with identical 8-4-1-0 records. Wingham is fifth at 6-7-1-0, Mitchell Hawks sixth at 4-7-2-0, Fergus Whalers seventh at 2-7-2-2 and Goderich Flyers eighth at 2-9-0-1.

The Patriots are to host Walkerton next Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex.

• Guelph Sports Journal