Vipers, Red Wings pick up victories

KENSINGTON – The Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers and Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings posted victories in the Island Junior Hockey League on Sunday.

The Red Wings prevailed 6-1 in an interlocking game with the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League’s Cap-Pelé Predators 6-1 while the Vipers topped the Sherwood-Parkdale A&S Scrap Metal Metros 5-2. Kensington is in first place at 2-0 (won-lost) while the Red Wings and Metros sit at 1-1.
Saturday, the Kent Koyotes won 2-0 to spoil the home opener of the Eastern Maniacs (0-2) in another inter-locking contest.
League play resumes on Wednesday, with the Red Wings facing the Metros at the Cody Banks Arena. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.

Red Wings 6 Predators 1
At the Evangeline Recreation Centre in Abram-Village, team captain Chasse Gallant scored three goals and added an assist for a four-point afternoon to lead the Red Wings in their home opener. Silas Handrahan (2-1) and Chandler Wood (1-2) also scored for the Red Wings while other assists were credited to Connor Morrissey (2), Isaac Knox and Curklan Fraser.
Jonathan Vautour was the only Predator to beat Red Wings goaltender Luke Oliver, who finished with 22 saves. The Red Wings directed 50 shots at Cap-Pelé netminder Mathieu Landry.
The Red Wings took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, and then netted three unanswered second-period markers to open up a 5-1 cushion after 40 minutes.

Vipers 5 Metros 2
At Credit Union Centre in Kensington, the Vipers, who have yet to trail in their first two games, held period leads of 2-1 and 3-1.
Logan Vandervelden, CJ McCardle, Kyle Pinksen, Garrett Murray and Riley Gallant all had a goal and an assist to account for Kensington’s scoring. Tyler Gallant and Ryan McKenna chipped in with single helpers.
Tanner Lund and Jordan Birt replied for the Metros. Alex Hall, Cale Pierce, Cody McPhee and Taylor Runighan drew assists.
Overall, the Vipers held a 47-20 shots-on-goal advantage. Caleb Coyle picked up the goaltending win, and Liam Jay was between the pipes for the Metros.

Koyotes 2 Maniacs 0
At the Eastern Kings Sportsplex in Souris, the game was scoreless until Joel Despres opened the scoring on the power play at 7:22 of the third period. Samuel Audet added an insurance marker at 18:27.
Alex Roussel registered a 30-save shutout. Noah Laybolt also faced 30 shots in the Eastern net.