ABRAM-VILLAGE – Alex Morrissey provided a spark when the Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings needed it the most.
Morrissey scored a natural hat trick in the third period to help the Red Wings turn a 5-3 deficit into a 6-5 lead en route to a 7-5 victory over arch-rival Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers on Sunday night.
The Red Wings, coming off a 4-3 shootout loss against the host Moncton Vitos in an interlocking game with the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League on Thursday night, improved to 3-5-2 (won-lost-overtime losses). Western closed to within two points of the second-place Vipers (4-2-2).
Red Wings 7 Vipers 5
At the Evangeline Recreation Centre, Silas Handrahan (1-3), Jason Gallant (1-2), Isaac Knox (1-1) and Curklan Fraser also scored for the Red Wings, who led 2-1 after the first period. Other helpers went to Calvin McRae (2), Spencer Groom and Cole Hackett.
For the Vipers, Drew Grady (1-2), Riley Gallant (1-2), Easton Smith (1-1), Nick Bouchey and Jacob Stewart found the back of the net. Jesse Jay, Campbell Gallant, CJ McCardle, Kyle Pinksen and Noah Stewart collected assists.
Winning goaltender was Bronson Banks, and Caelan Ferguson took the loss.
Vitos 4 Red Wings 3 (SO)
At the Superior Propane Centre, Remi Theriault and Pascal Dupuis scored as the Vitos outscored the Red Wings 2-0 in the shootout.
Samuel Ingersoll (2) and Philippe-Alexis Vachon (1-1) scored in regulation time for the Vitos.
Knox, Silas and Tyson Arsenault answered for the Red Wings, who outshot the Vitos 53-23 through regulation time and the five-minute overtime period.
Julien Landry was the winning goaltender, and Banks was between the pipes for Western.
