Houseleague action heats up in Coniston

A busy Saturday in minor hockey featured a troika of Northeast Houseleague games played at the Toe Blake Arena in Coniston, with some very exciting finishes in store for those on hand taking in the action.

The Nickel Centre Peewee Sting bolted to a 3-0 first-period lead and held on through the final frame, edging the Sudbury 80's Red Wings 3-2. Carter Gosselin, Mason Adams and Zachari Mainville all found the back of the net for Nickel Centre in the opening 11 minutes of play before the Red Wings rallied to make things interesting.

Andrew Langley scored both goals for the SMHA crew, including one on a penalty shot as the teams traded chances throughout the contest. The Sudbury Peewee Lakers also built up a 3-0 first-period lead against the Sudbury Timberwolves, and then exchanged goals through a wild third frame that would see the teams combine for seven goals in a 7-4 victory for the Lakers.

Kevin Osolnik paced the winners with a hat trick, with single tallies coming courtesy of Daniel Wickenden, Zacharie Giroux, Bradley Bertrand and Riley Bruni. Adam Szalai answered with a two-goal effort for the Timberwolves, with Theodore Collin and Owen Benoit drilling one each.

The final matchup in Coniston featured two of the top three teams in the NEHL bantam division, with the SMHA Big Nickel Bears playing host to the Nickel Centre Rocks. Blake Bottrell blasted home his second goal of the game from the point on a power play with just 1:03 to play, pulling the Rocks into a 5-5 deadlock with the Bears.

Carter Rollins also chipped in with a pair of goals for Nickel Centre, with the remaining marker by Phillipe Picard, while the Bears' attack featured goals from Shawn Belanger (2), Seth Manitowabi, Brandon Robertson and Taylor Bedard.

In Nickel District Minor Hockey League play later Saturday evening, the Sudbury Novice AA Bulldogs defeated the Nickel City Novice A Select Sevens 5-2, with Christian Munch showing the way with a pair of goals.

Jack Gouchie, Sam McCue and Roch Renaud scored once each for the winners, while Miguel Dauphinais and Nolan Lafrance replied in a losing cause.