WEST CARLETON – Each team won their home game in a weekend series between the West Carleton Inferno and the Morrisburg Lions.

It was an important series for both teams taking up the bottom two spots of the West Division in the National Capital Junior C Hockey League (NCJHL). It ended up in a split. The Inferno won the first game of the home-and-home series 4-2 in Carp Saturday night (Nov. 2). The Lions won the Morrisburg game 5-1 Sunday afternoon.

As of Wednesday morning (Nov. 6) the series changed nothing in the standings. The Inferno (3-8) still sit in fourth in the five-team division with six points. They are still three points ahead of the Lions (1-9-1) but are now only one point behind the third place Metcalfe Jets (3-5-1).

The top eight teams, regardless of division, make the playoffs in the 10-team league. Currently the Metcalfe jets have that final playoff spot and three games in hand on the Inferno.

In the Saturday night game against the Lions, played at the W. Erskine Johnston arena, the game started off quiet with the first period ending with no goals. The Inferno would go on to score two goals in each of the next two periods with Pakenham defenceman Aaron Burgess scoring the winner.

Carleton Place’s Patrick Landrigan had two assists in the game and Carleton Place’s Corbin Vennor, Nepean’s Kyle Dykes and Perth’s Lucas Marr scored the other goals. Kanata’s Nathan Cheung was solid in nets for the Inferno.

Sunday afternoon (Nov. 3) the Inferno gave up four goals in the third period to fall 5-1 in the rematch at the Morrisburg Arena. Kemptville’s Benjamin Medynski scored the Inferno’s lone goal with Granton’s Noah Jesson and Sudbury’s Callum Roque picking up the assists. Carleton Place’s Alexander Miotla got the start in nets.

The Inferno have a tough weekend coming up and are on the road Saturday night (Nov. 9) against the east leading Vankleek Cougars (8-4) before returning home Sunday afternoon (Nov. 10) for a 4:10 p.m. start against the west leading South Grenville Rangers (9-1).

Rivermen stay on top

The West Carleton Rivermen continue to be the class of the Eastern Ontario Senior A Hockey League (EOSHL).

The Rivermen defeated the Cornwall Prowlers 6-3 at the Benson Centre Rink One on Saturday night (Nov. 2). The Rivermen have yet to lose in regulation sporting a 6-0-1 record after beating the EOSHL’s second place team in Cornwall (4-1-2). Deseronto (3-3-0) sits in third and the Maxville Millionaires have yet to register a win in six tries.

On Saturday night the Rivermen blew a 2-1 lead in the second after Cornwall scored two unanswered goals. The Rivermen came out flying in the third scoring four goals for the 6-3 win.

The Rivermen’s Blake Forslund was named the first star with a goal and an assist and David Nelson was named the third star with two assists. Woodlawn’s Josh Snider (2) opened the scoring for the Rivermen with Zack Rheaume (4), Carp’s Ryley Egan (9), Galetta’s Adrian Moyes (4) and Glenden Bakker (1) all scoring goals.

The Rivermen are back on the road this Saturday (Nov. 9) to take on the hapless Maxville Millionaires before returning home on Friday, Nov. 22.