LANTZ: The East Hants Ritchies Renovations & Excavating Penguins delivered a strong offensive performance in front of a good crowd at the Keith Miller Arena at the East Hants Sportsplex, defeating the visiting Antigonish AA Munro Bulldogs 7-4 in a feisty Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League (NSJHL) matchup.
The game featured plenty of offence, power-play production and a second-period altercation that saw multiple players sent off with fighting majors and game misconducts.
East Hants struck three times in the opening period before adding three more in the second, including two power-play goals, to build its advantage in a game that was as physical as it was entertaining.
Logan Durno led the Penguins’ attack with a hat trick, opening the scoring at 6:21 of the first period with assists from Jacob Sanford and Hayden Tamm.
He added another at 11:17, assisted by Jayson Hanson and Sanford, before completing his three-goal performance on the power play at 19:03 of the second period. Finley Diab and Chris Caissie picked up the assists on that marker.
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Lachlan Roach also scored in the first period, finding the back of the net at 9:49 off a feed from Finn Morris and Braedy Kirton.
Jayson Hanson extended the Penguins’ lead early in the second with Sanford and Bryce Stewart earning assists.
Finn Morris then converted on the power play at 3:07, assisted by Roach and Kirton.
Caissie rounded out the Penguins’ scoring at 15:24 of the second period, with Aiden Nicholson and Tamm assisting on the eventual game-winning goal.
Antigonish managed to score once in the third period, but East Hants had done enough damage offensively to secure the victory.
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The physical nature of the contest boiled over at 4:28 of the second period, when a series of fighting penalties and game misconducts resulted in several players being ejected.
For East Hants, Liam Nicholson, Finley Diab and Aiden Nicholson received fighting majors and game misconducts. Antigonish players Luc Legere, Owen Juurlink and Campbell Barrett were also assessed fighting majors and game misconducts.
The lengthy list of penalties underscored just how heated the contest became, with both teams forced to navigate the remainder of the game without several players.
There were additional infractions throughout the game, including slashing, interference and a head-contact penalty, adding to the penalty-heavy atmosphere.
East Hants’ six-goal effort was backed by its goaltender, Cokby Brown who helped the Penguins close out the feisty contest making 21 of 25 saves in goal.
The Pens are next in action Friday night when they host Sackville at the Sportsplex. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
