Story by TERRY BRIDGE - Listowel Banner Sports Reporter
A balanced attack was the key to victory for the Listowel Peewee AEs.
All three forward lines scored a goal as they mashed Mitchell 4-0 at home on Sunday night.
Eric Sousa potted a pair, including the game-winner, sandwiching markers from Lane Buchanan and Austin Service in the lone minor hockey game played at Listowel Memorial Arena on the holiday weekend.
The Peewees controlled the puck for the majority of the game, limiting Mitchell’s offensive opportunities.
“We played a good finesse game, we held on to the puck well and we didn’t make many mistakes,” said Tyler Russell, who centred Buchanan and Riley Thompson. “Overall it was a good game.”
Goalie Jacob Nethercott turned aside every shot he faced to secure his third-straight shutout and fifth of the regular season.
The Peewees (8-5-2) tried to focus on playing a complete game in all three zones of the rink against a Mitchell group that wouldn’t back down despite trailing by three goals midway through the contest.“We’re passing, shooting and hitting, doing everything right,” noted Sousa, who netted the final goal of the game on a five-hole shot after a pass from Reid Wareham.
Service converted a beautiful breakaway tally with a crafty deke and shot over the netminder’s glove.
Mitchell split the game between two goalies, posing a problem for Listowel shooters.
“Each one had their strength and weaknesses. The first goalie was good up high, the second was good down low, you have to adjust to each goalie. It’s a challenge but we came through,” said Russell.
Wade McPhee and Zach Robinson each finished with a pair of assists.
“We’re passing great,” Sousa said.
Listowel returns to the ice this Sunday in Durham against the Huskies, with puck drop set for 3:30 p.m.
Prior to the match-up the group will be looking to iron out a few wrinkles in their game, even though they’re riding a four-game winning streak.
“I think we should work on our defensive-zone coverage, instead of bunching up we should spread out a bit more,” Russell explained.