by Garrett Fodor
On November 19, the Essex 73’s played host to the Wheatley Sharks, which was the local hockey team’s lone game of the week.
And, for the third time this season, the Sharks stymied the 73’s, which has happened on home ice twice this year.
After taking an early penalty, the Sharks were sent on the man-advantage. After the 73’s lost the draw, the puck went to the top of the blue line and Sharks’ Mason Gow slapped a shot that deflected off Karson Beuglet and went in. Eight-minutes later, Gow notched his second of the night as he slipped a shot through 73’s goalie, Jax D’hondt’s, five-hole. The scoreboard read 2-0 for the Sharks after one period of play. The shots were 7-3 for Essex.
In the early minutes of period two, however, the 73’s came out of the intermission looking like a new team. They were skating unlike the previous period and controlling the puck and getting chances in the offensive zone.
It was the fourth line of Brayden Zuidema, Beuglet, and Kristan Pelling that cut the lead in half. Beuglet was Johnny-on-the-spot and banged home a rebound behind Sharks’ goalie, Kyle Metson. It was the 16-year-old’s first junior hockey goal. But that would be as close as Essex would come to getting a chance to tie the game.
Despite outshooting the Sharks 27-20 throughout the game, the 73’s were unable to beat Metson again.
To cap things off, the Sharks, and former 73 Alixe Saliba, added an empty-netter to prevail 3-1.
The 73’s are now off until Tuesday when they will host Mooretown.
Tuesday also marked the debut of 73’s forward, Ty Miss, who was recently acquired.