KENSINGTON – Three veterans and a rookie helped the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild get back on the winning track Saturday night.
Third-year forward Frank Fortin of Bonshaw scored twice, second-year forward Colby MacArthur of Summerside contributed a goal and an assist, sophomore defenceman Zac Arsenault of Montague registered two assists and rookie goaltender Chad Arsenault of St. Raphael, near Wellington, made 22 saves in the Wild’s 5-2 victory over the Fredericton Caps on Saturday night.
The New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League game was played at Community Gardens.
“We moved the puck good and buried our chances,” said Fortin in assessing the Wild’s performance.
It was an important win for Kensington, which was playing its only game of the week and was looking to bounce back from a disappointing 7-5 loss to the league-leading Moncton Flyers a week earlier.
“To have a week off and come back and win after we lost to Moncton was big,” said Fortin, 17.
The Wild improved to 10-5-1 (won-lost-overtime losses), and closed to within one point of the second-place Saint John Vitos (11-7-0). Kensington has two games-in-hand on Saint John.
Play in Tignish Friday
The Wild will host back-to-back games this weekend as they will again face the Caps in a make-up game at the Tignish Credit Union Arena on Friday at 8 p.m. With the Wild having a strong presence of players from West Prince, Fortin said the team is looking forward to playing in Tignish.
“We hope to have a big crowd up there,” said Fortin, who is expecting a tough game.
“They (Caps) will come out wanting to redeem themselves (after Saturday’s game), but we have to come out and work harder than them.”
Saturday, the Bathurst, N.B.-based Northern Moose travel to Community Gardens for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff.
Thomas Rennie and Chandler Wood also scored for the Wild against the Caps while single helpers went to Chase Gaudette, Ryan Richards, Evan Gallant, Austin Callaghan, Ethan Beaulieu and Clark Webster.
Zach Spencer and Brady Patterson replied for the Caps (5-10-0), who trailed 1-0 after one period and 3-2 following 40 minutes.
The Wild never trailed in the game as Arsenault, who has a 2.23 goals-against average and .925 save percentage, improved to 8-0 in league play.
Fredericton goaltender Justin Dupuis faced 28 shots.
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