Dolphins end skid sinking Sailors

"It could have went either way They could have popped two in real quick and been back in it," said Duncan, who took an errant Sailors' pass and sniped the Dolphins' fourth goal in the third period. "After that we still didn't run away with it. They stuck around, but I'm glad to get the win."

After winning seven consecutive games, the Dolphins had dropped three of four games, including losing both games last weekend to Exeter and North Middlesex.

"It's building up to the way we know we can play. The system we (coaches) want them to play. Yes we did a better job in spurts, but we're not where we should be," Dolphins' coach Chris Masse said. "We're never going to have an opposing team have an off night and the boys need to know that and they do know that. Every time Dorchester steps on the ice, the other team wants to beat us. The boys always have to bring their A game."

Port Stanley's Daniel Guernsey and Dorchester's Jakob Marche, with his ninth of the campaign, traded goals in the first period. Marche leads the Dolphins with 18 points, with nine goals and nine assists.

Liam McCarthy was busy in the Dorchester net making 47 saves including a pair of breakaways.

"McCarthy played great for us. He was awesome making a couple big stops. He's moving the puck well. He's reading the play and that's helping our D. He's starting a couple breakouts," said Masse. "Captain gets a snipe and Wenger gets a goal, so the defence contributed. It was a good day."

Duncan netted his second goal of the season, both coming against the Sailors.

"I don't do it often," Duncan said. "I was a little down on myself as I wasn't having the best game but it was nice to put one in. I'll have to thank their D-man, he put that right on my stick."

The captain understands there is still room for improvement.

"The effort is there and we're playing hard but I think we're not playing smart enough. We're still not playing the system Steelsy (head coach Mark Steele) is looking for," said Duncan. "Once everybody is doing that, myself included, we're going to be a force to be reckon with."

The Dolphins (9-4-0-0), second in the Provincial Junior Hockey League Yeck Division behind the Exeter Hawks (10-2-0-0), visit Parkhill, Saturday, November 20, to take on the North Middlesex Stars. The Sailors (1-11-0-0) sitting seventh, host the Hawks on Saturday.