With just seven games remaining in their 42-game regular season, the Amherstburg Admirals are treating each game as if it were a playoff contest.
This past weekend saw the Admirals win twice, improving their Provincial Junior Hockey League (Jr. ‘C’) record to 17-15-1-0.
As it has been for most of the year, the difference between third and sixth place in the eight team West Stobb Division continues to be close. Amherstburg, Wheatley, Mooretown and Blenheim are in a very tight race.
“The part of the game we are really stressing is that we need to be fast and be more physical. Every game is important,” said Amherstburg head coach Zack Gervais.
Friday night in Dresden, the visiting Admirals trailed 2-1 after the first but came out strong in the middle frame, scoring three unanswered goals en route to a 6-4 win over the Kings. A total of 14 Amherstburg players hit the scoresheet.
“It shows how far we’ve come and how balanced we are. These guys know where to go when they are on the ice,” said Gervais.
Scoring for the Admirals were Dallas Kelly, Drew Booker, Brett Jones, Brady Drouillard, Ryan Dufour and rookie defenceman Cooper Bulmer who got his second of the year and received the Yellow Jacket as the Addys Player of the Game.
Dresden caught Amherstburg off guard in the first period as they scored with just two seconds left. The next day in Walpole Island, the host Wild also got one late in the opening stanza, with just six seconds remaining.
“I think it’s being aware at the moment and knowing what’s going on. Against Dresden it was a tough play behind the net. We need to stay focused.”
Saturday against the Wild, Jones led the way with a goal and a pair of assists while Booker, Freddie McCroy, Rory Sandison and Ryan Clark scored. For Clark who got the Yellow Jacket, it was his first as an Admiral.
It was deadlocked 2-2 after the first and following a scoreless second, Amherstburg picked up their 17th win of the year, a 5-2 victory.
Amherstburg hosts the division-leading Essex 73’s this Saturday at the Libro Centre beginning at 7:30 p.m. Back on January 7, the host 73’s came out on top of a lop-sided 9-0 score.
“It will be an important week in practice. We have a good read on what they want to do to beat us. It should be a good measuring stick heading into the playoffs,” said Gervais.
It’s another back-to-back weekend as the Admirals are on the road to Blenheim Sunday for a 7 p.m. start with the Blades.
SLAPSHOTS: Jones who leads the team with 35 points, along with Brady Drouillard and Sandison have suited up for all 35 regular season games thus far…Between the pipes Dominic DeZorzi has a 2.97 GAA and Russell Vaughan, 3.26 GAA.
Admirals victorious in a pair of weekend road games
By Fred Groves
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