Ontario Hockey Association

The game turned ugly from just about every angle on Friday, December 21, as the Hanover Barons handed the Mount Forest Patriots a penalty-laden 8-1 defeat. 

 

Mount Forest fell behind only 1-0 after 20 minutes, as former Jr. C Patriot Kevin Tremble scored to give the home side a lead.  Leading Pats scorer Josh Higginson tied the game in the second, thanks to assists from Mark Gregory and Jeff Colton, but Tremble struck again on the power-play to restore the lead at 2-1.  

 

Mount Forest’s game fell completely apart in the third period, as six unanswered Barons goals rolled up the bloated 8-1 score.  Former Patriot Steve Hillier counted a Baron goal and assist, with Allan Campbell adding one goal and two assists.  A steady stream of penalties slowed the ugly game, including a total of 10 misconducts for inciting plus fighting majors to Patriots Kyle Raben, Ryan Guse and Bobby Nicol.  The official tally for shots on goal saw Hanover fire 44, while Mount Forest mustered only 15 in the one-sided game.  

 

Hosting the Goderich Sailors one night later on Dec. 22, the Patriots once again competed early, only to see the game slip away in the late going, and end 4-2 in favour of their guests.  Goderich opened the scoring early in the first period, but Mount Forest’s Marlon Campbell quickly replied with a blast set up by Kyle MacKenzie and Dylan Weltz.  The Sailors then secured a 2-1 lead, with the only goal of the second.  Shayne Ross tied the game in period three, scoring from Marlon Campbell and Tim Posthumus near the five-minute mark of the period.  However, Goderich sniper Matt McClinchey netted two late goals, only 20 seconds apart, to rip the game away from the Pats.  

 

The Kincardine Bulldogs continue to lead the league with 23 wins and 46 points, while Walkerton, Wingham and Hanover are all competing for second place with 36, 33 and 32 points. Goderich lifted their point total to 16 with the win, while Mount Forest sits with three wins and seven points.  The Patriots are among the league’s elite in penalty minutes, and sit second only to Kincardine as the least penalized squad in the Western Jr. C league.