The final was a 9-3 verdict over the Cumberland-Colchester Colts.
Logan Cleveland scored his 15th goal of the season in the first period as the River Rats were just beginning to rev up their engines. Cleveland’s goal was the only one in the first period before the hometown team caught fire in the second and third periods, scoring four goals in each of the final two periods.
Stuart Whidden registered his 14th of the season during the power-play and Tyler Lapierre, Mitchell Urquhart and Adam Ferguson rifled goals for the River Rats in the second.
The final was a 9-3 verdict over the Cumberland-Colchester Colts.
Logan Cleveland scored his 15th goal of the season in the first period as the River Rats were just beginning to rev up their engines. Cleveland’s goal was the only one in the first period before the hometown team caught fire in the second and third periods, scoring four goals in each of the final two periods.
Stuart Whidden registered his 14th of the season during the power-play and Tyler Lapierre, Mitchell Urquhart and Adam Ferguson rifled goals for the River Rats in the second.
Ferguson, who has had playing time with the Valley Maple Leafs this year, is back with the River Rats for more regular ice time.
Tyler Dixon, Joel MacNeil, Devon Pennell and Samuel Plourde all scored in the third period for the River Rats. Plourde also added two assists and Taran Bailey collected three assists.
The River Rats’ goaltender, Josh MacLeod, who presently leads the league in minutes played with 1,055, stopped 13 of the 16 shots he faced. The River Rats fired 41 shots at the Colts’ net. MacLeod has a save percentage of .890 to date this season and a goals against average of 3.64.
The River Rats will start 2017 with four of their first five games on home ice. The first game of the 2017 season is an away match when they travel to take on the Metro Jaguars on Jan. 6. The Jaguars are a team they will play three times in the month of January and they are a team that the River Rats currently lead by nine points in the race to secure first place in the Nova Scotia Regional Junior Hockey League.
On Jan. 8, the River Rats host the Bedford Wolverines at 7 p.m. On Jan. 14 and Jan. 15, the River Rats will host the Metro Jaguars and Spryfield Attack.