The juggling for spots in both divisions of the SDSSAA Boys Hockey league continues as the teams get ready to tackle the exam break, with a short hiatus that will lead directly into the playoff matchups in early February.
The St Charles College Cardinals are showing the way atop the D1 standings at 11-1-0, though potential chinks in the armour were exposed this rink as the Sudbury juggernaut needed a third period goal from Jackson Noble to edge the Bishop Carter Gators (7-3-2) by a score of 1-0 - this despite a 41-shot barrage directed at BAC netminder Ethan Philippe.
Still with a shot at overtaking the Cards, the Lo-Ellen Park Knights were dealt a blow when they split their games this week, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Horizon Aigles (5-3-4) on Monday but doubling the St Benedict Bears (6-4-4) 8-4 two days later.
Russell Ranger potted a natural hat trick in the third period against Lo-Ellen, snapping a 2-2 tie and lifting the Aigles to a key victory. Teammates Caleb Larose and Hudson Goulet joined him on the scoresheet while Max Jouppi and Drake Taylor countered for the Knights.
Lo-Ellen took out their frustrations over the loss on the Bears, scoring seven times in the first two periods alone as Matthew Trottier and Noah Lafrance scored three goals each for the winners.
Drake Taylor and Max Jouppi capped things off for LEP while Dawson Kolodinski (2), Dominic D'Angelo and Mauro Cusinato replied in a losing cause.
The Bears edged the Gators 2-1 in a key battle on Tuesday, with Zachary Pelletier scoring the game-winner in the final minute of play, leaving both teams tied with 16 points apiece - though Bishop holds two games in hand. Tyler Huffman (BAC) and Reid Bombardieri (STB) traded second period goals to see up the dramatic finish.
With three games remaining, Horizon can still leapfrog the Bears, just two points behind, with the Lively Hawks (5-6-1) needing to string some wins together starting Thursday afternoon when they meet up with the Aigles in Hanmer.
The Collège Notre-Dame Alouettes lead the Division II table at 6-5-0 (12), though the Confederation Chargers (4-7-1 = 9) seem to be heating up at just the right time.
The Chargers hit double digits for the second consecutive game on Monday, trouncing the Lockerby Vikings 14-3 behind a one-two punch of Jordy Giroux (4G-2A) and Meeka Duguay (3G-2A).
Chipping in on the offensive onslaught were Ty Brouse (3), Jake Drozdowsky (2), Evan Ouimet and Owen Blay, with Ryder Coe sniping two for the Vikes and Masa Innis adding a solo tally.
The St Charles lads got a few more games under their belts, participating at the St Peter's Classic in Peterborough last weekend, an event that needed a rejigged schedule because of travel issues with some teams who did not ultimately arrive in the Lift Lock City.
The Cardinals posted a record of 3-1-0, tripling the St Mary's Knights from Sault Ste Marie 3-1 (Karson Gouchie-2; Patrick Young and edging the Neil McNeil Maroons from Scarborough 2-1 in overtime (Alex Marshfield; Karson Gouchie) in their first two games.
Their only loss came opposite the Brooklin Bears, beaten 4-3 (Karson Gouchie; Patrick Young; Brady Holden) but closing things off in style with a 6-0 whitewashing of the Mother Theresa Spartans from London as Gouchie (2), Quinn Pigeau, Marshfield, Noble and Harrison Markiewich all tallied for SCC.
