Vipers hold on to edge Maniacs

Red Wings visit Metros in IJHL play Wednesday

['Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers']

MONTAGUE, P.E.I. — The Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers built a 5-2 lead after two periods and held on for a 5-4 victory over the Hynes Paving Maniacs on Tuesday night.

The Island Junior Hockey League season opener for the Maniacs was played at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre in Montague.
Nick Trainor and Dixon MacLeod, a call-up from the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild major midget team, each had a goal and an assist to lead the Vipers. Ryan Richards, Tayler Read and Kyle McGuigan also scored for Kensington, which led 2-1 after the first period and evened its record at 1-1-0 (won-lost-overtime losses).
Blake Gallant, Noah Stewart, Clay MacLean and Dylan Wheatley earned assists for the Vipers.
For the Montague-based Maniacs, Dawson Palmer (1-2), Bret Cheverie, Nick Steele and Cooper Church found the back of the net. Ben MacIsaac, Larkin Kennedy, Jason Poley and Ty Peardon chipped in with helpers.
Ben Parent turned aside 26 of 30 shots in earning the goaltending win. Cam Duffy was beaten five times on 30 tests in the Maniacs’ goal.
League action resumes on Wednesday as the defending-champion Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings travel to Cody Banks Arena in Charlottetown to provide the opposition for the Sherwood-Parkdale A&S Scrap Metal Metros’ opening game. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.
The Maniacs will pay a return visit to Kensington for the Vipers’ home opener on Sunday in a 7 p.m. start.