AMHERST, N.S. — Stephen Fox picked a good time to end an early season scoring slump.
The second-year forward scored a pair goals, including a game-clinching one with 1:29 to go, as the Amherst CIBC Wood Gundy Ramblers defeated the Valley Wildcats 5-3 in Maritime Junior Hockey League action here Monday.
With the Ramblers trailing 2-1 after the first period, Fox scored just over two minutes into the second period to tie the game before Cole Darrach scored later in the period to give Amherst a lead it would never relinquish.
On the goal, Fox redirected a Brock Bartholomew goal out of the air and by Wildcats’ goalie Aaron Brunn while Darrach’s goal came when he was left all alone at the side of the goal and banged home a rebound with Caleb Rich and Alex Wynter adding assists.
Bartholomew extended the lead to 4-2 just over a minute into the final period when his shot beat Brunn just inside the far post with Fox and Darrach adding assists.
After Luke Wilson scored on a rebound at 17:07 to pull Valley to within a goal, Fox took advantage of a turnover just in front of Brunn and snapped a shot over the Wildcat goalie’s shoulder to seal the win for amherst. Darrach added an assist.
Rich for Amherst and Brett Cameron and Wilson for the Valley scored in the first period.
Amherst outshot Valley 48-18.
The win came less than 48 hours after Tyler Caseley recorded the shutout in a 4-0 win over the Grad Falls Rapids on Saturday.
Cole Waugh and Robbie Burt each scored twice in the game.
Amherst also lost 5-4 in overtime in Yarmouth on Friday as the Ramblers stormed back from a 4-1 third period deficit to force overtime.
Rich had two goals and an assist in the game with Waugh adding a goal and two assists and Max Boudreau chipping in a single goal.
Jonathan Rees scored the OT winner for Yarmouth with Matt Barron, Ian MacDonald, Sam Gillis and Nathan MacMillan also scoring.
Amherst is back in action next Saturday when the Fredericton Red Wings come to town to face the Ramblers. Amherst native Jordan Hunter is the video coach of the Red Wings while Avard Cameron, who was an assistant trainer with the Ramblers this season, is also with Fredericton this year.
The Ramblers are also in Berwick next Sunday to face the Wildcats.
