A10

by Darcey McLaughlin

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JUNIOR A HOCKEY — The Miramichi Timberwolves were in action at the Miramichi Civic Centre Saturday night for the first pre-season home game of the year.

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The T-Wolves would drop a 7-4 decision to the Summerside Western Capitals as staff from both teams evaluate players and prepare for the upcoming season.

The Capitals, who are expected to have a very strong team this season, jumped out to an early lead at 6:02 of the first. Miramichi had trouble clearing their own zone, leading to a turn over at the blue line. Jarrett Bernard would send the puck from the boards to the slot for Jason Gallant, who would waste no time taking the shot, beating T-Wolves keeper Brent Pierro to go up 1-0.

Going to the net and looking for the pass would work again for Summerside as Nathan DeRoches would do it at 11:16, taking the feed from Josh Currie to extend the Caps lead to 2-0 before going up 3-0 on the power play.

Miramichi would claw their way back into the game. At 14:05 the T-Wolves would come out of their own end on a nice rush that would rest in Robbie Vericker getting the good guys on the board with assists to Kevin Saunders and Tyler McCormack.

They would cut the lead further just 42 seconds into the second period as Bret McGinnis on a rush would feed Nathan McQuid, who was trailing on the play. He would beat the goalie clean to cut Summerside's lead to 3-2.

The T-Wolves would draw even on a goal by Justin Barbour 10:11 and take the lead on a penalty shot awarded to McGinnis at 13:32.

But the Capitals would tie the game at 4-4 before the end of the period with a quick shot that beat Miramichi goalie Brad Dyke, who came in to the game at the halfway point, to start the third 4-4.

It was as close as the T-Wolves would get. The Capitals would score less than four minutes into the third and add two more goals to go home with a 7-4 lead.

A night earlier it was a better outcome for the T-Wolves as they travelled to Campbellton to take on the Restigouche Tigers.

The T-Wolves scored two in the first, four in the second and one more in the third for a 7-2 win. It was a big night for Jeremy Barron who picked up a goal and two assists. Returning defenceman Keith Bombaugh also had a goal and two assists in the game, plus a fight in the second and third period and a total of 20 minutes in penalties.

Next pre-season action is tonight as the Tigers come to town for a rare Monday night game at a slightly early time of 7 p.m