A third-period rally came up just short, as the Amhestburg Admirals lost by a 4-3 score to the Walpole Island Wild on Saturday night in Amherstburg.
Aaron Highfield’s goal 15 seconds into the third, put the Wild up 4-1 and stunned the Admirals who hoped to make a big push to start the final 20 minutes of play. Following the Highfield goal, the home side turned up the pressure and got one back on Jack Bulmer’s first goal as an Admiral at 5:40 of the period. They conitinued to pepper the Wild net for the rest of the third and got within a goal when Brady Drouillard scored his fouth of the year with 48 seconds left in regulation. The Admirals then had a couple looks and scrambles around Walpole netminder Mitch Rawlings, but the veteran netminder kept the puck out to preserve the victory for the visistors.
Rookie defenseman Freddie McCroy opened the scoring for the Admirals early in the first period for his first career junior goal. Starter Jay Procter was pulled from the Amherstburg net midway through the second period after stopping 11 of 14 shots, and was replaced by Russell Vaughan who went the rest of the way, allowing one goal on 16 shots.
The Admirals return to action on Wednesday night when they travel to Wheatley for the first meeting of the season with the Sharks. Game-time in Wheatley is7:30 PM.