The rookie forward from Kensington scored a hat trick to lead the Vipers to a 5-2 victory over the Eastern Maniacs in Game 7 of the best-of-seven semifinal series. The game was much closer than the final score indicates.
“The last six to eight weeks Riley has been the sparkplug for this team,” said Vipers head coach Wade Waddell. “He’s a kid who plays on the cusp on taking a penalty, but generally he doesn’t go over that line. I find he’s probably the most intense player we have on the team right now. I’m pretty happy for Riley.”
The first-place Vipers will host arch-rival Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings in Game 1 of the best-of-seven final at Community Gardens on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Period leads
Before an estimated 800 fans in Kensington, the Vipers held period leads of 1-0 and 3-0. The Maniacs, who battled back from a 3-1 series deficit to force a deciding game, never quit and made it a 3-2 game off a fluke goal with 1:05 remaining in regulation time. But Gallant answered right back to cap a three-goal performance, and Logan Toole (1-1) closed out the scoring into an empty net.
“Whenever they scored to make it 3-2 it was a big downer, but we didn’t let up, kept the peddle down,” said the 18-year-old Gallant, who admitted he considered passing instead of shooting on his third goal.
Easton Smith also scored for the Vipers while Jordan Mayhew (3) and Campbell Gallant (2) each had multiple-assist games.
Alex Gallant and Tyler Rose countered for the Souris-based Maniacs.
Veteran Grant Grady recorded the goaltending win, and Cam Duffy was between the pipes for the Maniacs, who held a 48-44 shots-on-goal advantage.
“It was a hard-fought battle for both teams,” assessed Gallant, who captained the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild of the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League last season. “They (Maniacs) fought hard.”
Gallant said the message in the Vipers dressing room before the game was to get off to a quick start, which is exactly what he provided for the Vipers. He opened the game’s scoring at the 11-second mark, and made it a 2-0 game at 4:16.
When asked if there were any nervousness in the dressing room before Game 7, Gallant commented: “Actually, everybody was laid back, fired up and ready to go. There was no nerves.”
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Gallant sparks Vipers
KENSINGTON – Riley Gallant provided a spark when the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers needed it the most.
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