Dolphins take high scoring home opener

DORCESTER, Ont. - It was a back and forth affair but the Dorchester Dolphins got the home opening win.

Quinn Gavin-White completed a hat trick scoring with 13 seconds remaining in the third period, to lift the Dolphins over the Paris Mounties, 7-6, Sunday afternoon at the Flight Exec Centre.

"We don't want to be winning too many games, 7-6," Dolphins head coach Jordan Fuller said. "We did go into the third period saying, we don't care what the score is, we just need two points. We did a good job making that happen."

The Dolphins split their games on opening weekend to the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) season, edging Paris and falling 5-3, at New Hamburg Friday, September 11.

"It was successful," Fuller said. "We played way, way, better on Friday and didn't get any points. I thought we played poorly this game and we get two points."

Momentum bounced between the Dolphins and Mounties with four lead changes. The home side held three leads, including 6-5, that Paris knotted on a five-on-three power play mid third period.

"We need to shore up things defensively," Fuller said. "Clean up the D-zone and have good clean zone exits. We struggled with our first pass. That was a problem on Friday too. If we can make three good passes on the tape, we'll probably have a good scoring opportunity. We haven't been able to do that and that's why it's been sloppy in our end."

The Dolphins were short on defence including not having veteran Liam Brulotte.

After Paris opened the scoring 13 minutes into the first period, Gavin-White scored his first of the game. Two minutes later Ethan Bourgeois put the Dolphins up, 2-1. A pair of power play goals gave Paris a 3-2 lead by the end of the period. Gavin-White again tied the game 90 seconds in to the second period. After Paris grabbed a 4-3 lead, Dolphins' Colson Joyce and LJ Legault scored within a minute of each other, to move ahead 5-4. A third Mounties power play goal knotted the affair at five. Carson Thompson moved the Dolphins ahead 6-5.

A double minor to Peter Kushner and a very questionable tripping call on Gavin-White, gave the Mounties a two man advantage and a minute later the game was all tied at six.

"Colsen made a nice drop pass to LJ and LJ made a beauty feed and I carried it back door. I didn't have to do much," said Gavin-White on his game winner. "It's awesome, but all that matters is the two points. The boys have been gelling. I'm happy that we came out here on a Sunday at 330 and got the win."

Joyce and Legault, both finished with a goal and two assists. Lucas Wilson picked up two assists. Gavin-White also had one assist.

The 21-year old Gavin-White in his first season with the Dolphins, brings junior experience and skill for scoring, thanks to 116 points in 137 GOHL (Junior B) games with four teams including St Thomas.

At New Hamburg Friday, the Dolphins out shot their hosts, 49-21, but didn't find the scoreboard until the third period, down 3-0.

Gavin-White, Bourgeois and Colsen Joyce scored for the Dolphins.