Dolphins continue to swim in top spot 

   Not losing back to back games helps with PJHL Yeck division leading 13-3-0 record

   but having trouble with North Middlesex is a trend dating back to last season

Monday, November 5, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

DORCHESTER -  Prior to the 2017 playoffs, the Dorchester Dolphins had never lost to the North Middlesex Stars.

The Dolphins won the first round series in five games, on their way to the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) Yeck Division title, but the Stars seemed to have a break through.

Last season, North Middlesex won the season series against Dorchester, three games to two. So far into the 2018-19 campaign, the Stars are two for two, including a 5-2 win at Dorchester, on November 2.

North Middlesex led 2-0 after one period, on goals by Sam Baker and Noah Hamilton.

Dorchesters' Ryan VanRoestel scored in the second period and assisted on Noah Small's equalizer, two minutes into the third.

But the Stars replied with three goals over the final eight minutes, including Baker completing a hat trick.

The Dolphins came up empty on seven power plays.

The home team kept Stars' goalie Liam McCarthy busy with 50 shots. 'Phins goalie Matt Waller faced 37 pucks.

  Visit the Dolphins

Dorchester hasn't lost back to back games this season and that continued as the Dolphins won 5-3 at Lambeth, on November 4, improving to 13-3-0-0 and continuing to lead the Yeck Division.

The Dolphins held leads of 3-0 and 4-1.

Root

Dylan Buckholz, Ryan Root and Nolan Blewett, each had a goal and an assist. Small and David Henshaw potted goals within 29 seconds of each other, in the sixth minute of the second period. Their goals sandwiched Lancers' Carson Esipu's first of two goals, coming eight seconds after Henshaw's strike.

Matt Granger also scored for Lambeth, now with a record of 9-6-0-0.

James Newland picked up two assists. The Dolphins' defenceman leads all blueliners in the division with 13 points, on four goals and nine assists.

Buckholz is tied for third in scoring with 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists), Blewett is fifth with 20 points (10 g, 10 a) and Root, tied for sixth at 19 points (10G, 9a).

Root and Esipu, each have a divisional best four game winning goals.

As of November 5th, Dorchester is two points up on the Exeter Hawks (12-5-0-0), in the standings and a four point advantage over both North Middlesex (9-6-0-2) and the Thamesford Trojans (10-5-0-0).

The Dolphins visit Exeter, November 9th and Port Stanley, November 10th, before hosting Mt. Brydges, Wednesday, November 14th.