KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — The rivalry between the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild and Moncton Flyers continued to grow on Saturday night.
The two teams met in a very entertaining and hard-fought game before a good crowd at Credit Union Centre in Kensington that came right down to the wire in a first-place battle in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League.
The Wild was clinging to a 2-1 lead late in the third period when every player on the ice, excluding the goaltenders, got involved in an after-the-whistle incident around Kensington’s net. When the referees sorted out the penalties, the extra penalty went to the Wild – a double minor for head contact – that gave Moncton a four-minute power play.
Late goals
The Flyers, who failed to score during a 5-on-3 power play in overtime of a 5-4 shootout win over the Wild in the Hub City on Oct. 6, took full advantage as Alex Ferguson’s shot from the right wing made its way through traffic and past Wild goaltender Josh Smith, who had made three point-blank saves in the third period, with 36 seconds remaining to tie the game. The equalizer came during a 6-on-4 man advantage as goaltender Nick Sheehan was on the bench in favour of an extra attacker.
Dominic LeBlanc capped the comeback as his pass out front from behind the goal-line deflected off a Wild defender and into the net with 11 seconds remaining.
Seth MacLeod opened the scoring for the Wild just past the three-minute mark of the first period and Alex Petrie tied the game in the final minute of the middle frame. Donovan Arsenault gave Kensington its second lead of the game 7:23 into the third period. It appeared Austin Arsenault had given the Wild a 3-1 lead shortly after they took the lead, but the goal was disallowed after it was ruled the net was dislodged.
Keegan Hunt and Tristan Sanchez assisted for Moncton, which improved its league-leading record to 6-1-0 (won-lost-overtime losses) while Duncan Picketts, Austin Arsenault and Alex Graham earned assists for second-place Kensington (4-2-1).
Overall, the Wild outshot the Flyers 30-20.
The Wild is back in action on Sunday afternoon in Bathurst, N.B., against the Northern Moose (3-1-1). Also Sunday, the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights host the Saint John Vitos (1-6-0) at MacLauchlan Arena in a 1:45 p.m. start.
Kensington’s next home game is against the Moose on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
