The Arnprior Packers were in Carleton Place for a 12pm game on Monday, trying to play spoiler on a Canadians team closing in on the Richardson Division regular season title. The game was close until six goals in the 3rd period gave the Canadians an 8-1 win.
Ethan Wardman scored the opening goal of the game in the first period on an outstanding wrap around set up by linemate Hisham Barayan. Wardman and Barayan have combined for 5 goals in the last 3 games.
Reece Bolton scored his first of three on the day in the second period, taking Ryland Mosley’s pass to beat Packers goalie JP Donelly. Bolton now has 41 goals this season which is second best in the league.
Along with Bolton’s two 3rd period goals, Aiden Parnell scored twice and Barayan and Andrew Vanderklei also scored.
Jacob Lavergne made 16 saves in net to improve his record to 18-6-2.
The Canadians have now won 6 straight games and a win at home on Saturday night will clinch first place in the Richardson Division.
“It was a bit of a scrappy game,” said Canadians forward Andrew Vanderklei. “We had a bit of a slow start but we got better as the game progressed. I think after we scored a couple of goals in the third they kind of shut down and we just kept hammering away.”
Vanderklei is a 16 year old from Niagara Falls who started the year as a defenseman but has since made the switch to forward. “I think on defense I was more timid, playing forward I feel more natural.”
On Monday the league named both Reece Bolton and Ryland Mosley first team all-stars. Mosley is second in the league with 86 points, while Bolton is fifth with 75.
The Westport Rideaus trail the Canadians by 3 points in the standings. The Rideaus will have to win at home against Winchester on Friday night and win Saturday’s game in Carleton Place in regulation; otherwise the Canadians finish first in the Division.
The top 5 teams in each division make the playoffs, with the top 3 teams on each side going straight to the quarter-finals.
Puck drop on Saturday night is scheduled for 8pm.
