Shamrocks turn on power play to win series opener

CAMBRIDGE – The Hespeler Shamrocks had a pair of three-goal runs as they opened their Provincial Junior Hockey League Doherty Division quarter-final with a 6-1 victory over the Tavistock Braves Thursday at the Hespeler Memorial Arena.

The Shamrocks scored four power-play goals in the game that was the first of the best-of-seven series.

Hespeler scored the lone goal of the first period with 15 seconds to go in the period and then extended the lead to 4-1 by the end of the second.

Andrew Harris led the Shamrocks with two goals and three assists while the other goals were scored by Michael Boyle-Ricupero, Riley Panagapka, Jack Restauri and Braeden Tyler. Restauri and Boyle-Ricupero each had two assists while Ryland MacPherson, Boden White, Mathew Styka and Alex Spencer had one apiece.

Andrew Van Boekel scored for Tavistock while Ian Glendinning had an assist.

The Shamrocks outshot the Braves 35-32 and went 4-for-9 on their power play while Tavistock was scoreless on five power plays.

David Hanley had 31 saves for Hespeler. James Hopper started in net for Tavistock and had 12 saves when he was replaced by Liam O’Leary at 8:35 of the second period after Hespeler’s third goal. O’Leary had 17 saves the rest of the way.

Second game of the series is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Tavistock and District arena.

• Guelph Sports Journal