AMHERST – The Amherst Regional High School Vikings hockey team secured a strong win Friday night in their home game against the Eastern Shore Schooners. The Vikings took an early lead that the visiting team couldn’t shake.
Alex VanSnick took the first period’s first and only goal, just five minutes into the game, assisted by Andrew Skinner and Michael Patterson.
The Vikings kept up their lead, taking in their second goal just over three minutes into the second period, scored unassisted by Joel Boyle, quickly followed by another goal scored by Brady Davis, with Mitchell Speight and Brett Gallant both earning assists. The Vikings scored a third goal, scored by Brett Gallant, with Brandon Greeno and Michael Patterson both earning assists, on the power play.
The Schooners scored their first goal 9:23 into the second period, scored by Matt Kent, assisted by Dillon Rowe and Clint Marks. The Vikings quickly came back, taking in their fifth goal, scored by Stephen Belyea, assisted by Ryan Hunter at 9:31.
The two teams battled it out before the Vikings took in their sixth and final goal with 8:40 remaining on the clock. The goal was scored unassisted by Andrew Skinner.
The Schooners took in the third period’s only goal at 6:51, scored by Darren Mullins, assisted by Dillon Rowe and Matt Kent, on the power play.
Vikings coach Wayne MacKenzie was pleased with the team’s win.
“Our power play was very good tonight,” he said. “Right off the bat, they went big and had a couple of guys running themselves, being really aggressive and took a couple of penalties. We capitalized on those penalties.”
In the Vikings previous home game, the boys, MacKenzie said, needed to work on moving the puck during the power play.
“They moved the puck well and they went hard to the net,” he said. “We got a good jump on them and the boys played smart defensive zone.”
jturner@amherstdaily.com
.jpg){kind=small}
