Shamrocks edged in overtime by New Hamburg
CAMBRIDGE – The Hespeler Shamrocks surrendered a goal 39 seconds into overtime as they were edged 2-1 by the New Hamburg Firebirds in Provincial Junior Hockey League play Sunday at the Hespeler Memorial Arena.
New Hamburg had taken the early lead with a power-play goal by Josh Vale in the fifth minute of the game. Zach Mark set up the goal.
New Hamburg 2 Hespeler Shamrocks 1 (OT)
Hespeler pulled even on Owen Fischer’s ninth goal of the season midway through the second period. Tommy Zufelt assisted on the play.
The score remained tied until New Hamburg’s Jake Thompson netted the overtime goal.
New Hamburg outshot the Shamrocks 43-24 and went 1-for-4 on its power play while Hespeler was held scoreless on its lone power play.
Joseph Clark suffered the overtime loss in the Hespeler net. He had 41 saves while winning goaltender Griffin Murphy had 23.
The point for taking the game into overtime moves the Shamrocks to fifth in the Doherty Division at 5-11-1-0, one point ahead of the Norwich Merchants (4-9-1-1). New Hamburg is fourth at 10-4-2-0.
The top four teams in the division are separated by three points as the Wellesley Applejacks (12-2-1-0) and Tavistock Braves (12-3-1-0) are tied for first and the Woodstock Navy Vets (11-2-2-0) are a point back in third and they’re two ahead of New Hamburg. Burford Bulldogs are seventh at 0-14-1-1.
The Shamrocks are to play the Navy Vets at the Woodstock Community Centre Friday at 7:45 p.m. and host Norwich Sunday at the Hespeler Memorial Arena at 3:30 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal