It wasn’t pretty, but it’s a win.
That’s how Head Coach Laurie Barron described the Yarmouth Junior A Mariners 4-3 win over Valley tonight at Mariners Centre.
@MarinersHockey defeat @Valley_Wildcats 4-3
3 Stars:
1. Barron (GWG)
2. Lanning
3. McKie
Hertz gets the W— Kevin Northup (@KevinNorthup) October 14, 2017
Matt Barron scored a powerplay goal with a minute left in regulation to seal the deal, Duncan McKie, Brent Broaders and Kyle Bergh also scored, and Leif Hertz made 27 saves for his seventh victory of the season.
Jacob Stewart took the loss in the Wildcats goal.
Laurie Barron says the Wildcats didn’t go away and made the Mariners battle.
“If it was a picture, it wasn’t Picasso, but it was two points. I’ve seen us better, but we found a way. They didn’t make it easy on us. They are a good hockey club and in this league, if you don’t come out and play your best every night, it’s anybody’s game.”
Yarmouth trailed 2-1 in the second period, but fought back to make it 3-2.
After the Wildcats tied it on an own goal early in the third, the teams played tightly until Barron’s winner.
Matt Barron says it was good to get on the board in the final minute.
“I thought he (Stewart) might be cheating over a little bit, thinking I might be going behind the net to set it up on the powerplay. I tried to find the hole and I guess I did.”
The Mariners are now 7-0 on home ice and 8-2 overall.
They host Woodstock tomorrow night.
New acquisition Kevin Stoya, a 20 year old defenceman from Lake George, New York will not play this weekend.
He is expected to make his Mariner debut next Friday against Amherst.