In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the Pembroke Lumber Kings escaped with a 4-2 victory over the Gloucester Rangers.
No lead was more than two goals during the contest, and the winning goal was scored by Ben VanOoteghem at 9:26 of the third period.
Pembroke was led by VanOoteghem, who tallied one goal.
Referees had their hands full with a major incident at 8:15 into the second period. Four fighting penalties were dished out along with two game misconducts.
The Lumber Kings forced Gloucester goalie Cedric Hansen to work between the pipes, taking 32 shots. Pembroke could not stay out of the penalty box, as the team accrued 17 minutes in penalties during the game.
Pembroke also had goals scored by Cale List, Brandon Zullo, and Alex Gilmour, who each put in one. More assists for Pembroke came via Colton Keuhl, Derek Varrin, Nicolas Vlahos, Patrick Kyte, Tyler ONeill, Adam Beveridge, and Brett Horn, who each chipped in one.
The Rangers forced their penalty killing units to work especially hard during the game, picking up seven minors and one major for 19 minutes in penalty time. The total exceeded the 14.0 minutes per game Gloucester had been spending in the box.
The Rangers were helped by Nicholas Ngwafusi, who racked up one goal. Ngwafusi scored on the power play 1:15 into the second period to make the score 1-1. Drew Shields assisted on the tally. Adam Johnston also scored for Gloucester. In addition, Gloucester received assists from Jacob Kendrick, Liam Hunter, and Darcy Walsh, who contributed one each.
Boyd Diclemente made 27 saves for the Lumber Kings on 29 shots. Pembroke registered one goal on four power play opportunities. For the Lumber Kings, Justin Felhaber was ejected from the game. Gloucester's Hansen stopped 28 shots out of the 32 that he faced. The Rangers registered one goal on four power play opportunities. Gloucester ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and Paul Vella was ejected from the game.
