LANTZ: The East Hants Ryson Construction Penguins split a weekend doubleheader in Nova Scotia Regional Junior Hockey League action, falling 4-2 to the South Shore Schooners on Saturday before bouncing back with a 5-3 victory over the Newport Titans on Sunday.
The Penguins’ Sunday win featured a five-goal first period and a parade to the penalty box, with numerous head-contact penalties assessed throughout the contest.
East Hants wasted little time getting its offence going against Newport, with five different goals recorded for the Penguins in the opening period.
Theo Stapleton opened the scoring at 13:15, assisted by Ethan Hines and Dylan Rafuse.
Hines then scored on the power play at 10:00, with Rafuse and Braden Martin picking up assists.
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Connor Lloyd struck twice in the opening frame. His first goal, assisted by Braden Martin, came at 14:06, before he added another at 11:27 with Gregor Beach and Hudson Forward assisting.
Rafuse also found the back of the net at 12:11, assisted by Stapleton and Jack Orchard, as East Hants built its lead in an offensive opening period.
No goals were recorded in the second period.
Gabe Rendell earned the goaltending win between the pipes for East Hants.
While the Penguins supplied the offence, penalties were another major storyline.
Head-contact calls were particularly prominent, with multiple players from both teams receiving penalties and misconducts for head contact. The game also featured other infractions, including charging, boarding and roughing, making for a busy night for the officials.
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Saturday setback against South Shore
The Penguins opened their weekend at home against the South Shore Schooners on Saturday, falling 4-2 in another physical contest.
Max Halladay scored East Hants’ first goal at 12:16 of the second period, assisted by Chase McDonald and Ty Campbell.
Jack Soubliere added the Penguins’ second at 8:11 of the third, with Hudson Forward and Dylan Rafuse earning assists.
The game was especially feisty in the penalty department.
The official sheet listed 63 penalty minutes for East Hants and 81 for South Shore, for a combined 144 minutes assessed.
The penalties included fighting majors, game misconducts and numerous misconducts.
Nolan McLauchlan suffered the loss in net for the Pens. Gabe Rendell came on in relief and did not allow any goals past him.
East Hants finished the weekend with a split, responding to Saturday’s loss with a three-goal victory over Newport on Sunday.
