Along with Saturday’s 4-3 win at the Gander Community Centre, it was the defending Herder Memorial Trophy champions’ third-straight triumph over their central Newfoundland neighbors. It’s a streak that began with a Cataracts’ shutout victory last Sunday in Grand Falls-Windsor the day after the Flyers had won what was the season-opener for both teams.
The league’s other two teams have also faced only each other over the first two weekends of the season. This time, the Clarenville Caribous and Corner Brook Royals played on the west coast, where the visiting Caribous edged Royals 4-3 on Sunday after Corner Brook had posted a 3-2 shootout victory on Saturday.
On Sunday in Gander, second-year import forward Cam Fergus and Botwood’s Andre Gill each added a goal and an assist, and newly signed import Colin Circelli drew assists on two goals.
“We played a complete game today, tidying up a few of the things that needed to be from last night’s game,” Cataracts’ bench boss Shane Lukinchuk told The Gander Beacon following Sunday’s contest.
“Right now, our players are doing what we expect of them, and we’re getting goals from the players, such as Mike (Brent), who are supposed to be scoring for us.”
Goaltender A.J. Whiffen worked the Cats’ blue ice for his league-leading third win of the season. Patrick O’Brien started for the Flyers, but got the hook midway through the second period following the Cats’ fourth goal. Roger Kennedy took over and allowed another tally before time expired.
Josh Day had the Flyers’ goal, his second of the season.
“It comes down to effort for us. We had much higher expectations coming into this weekend, but some guys didn’t step up to play at the level we have them for,” Flyers coach Chris Peach told the Beacon.
“We need to get more out of our number one and two lines. There are some guys there that need to pick up the pace. We depend a lot them and they need to lead.”
The referees were busy in the contest, doling out a total of 102 penalty minutes, 60 of which went to the Cataracts.
Grand Falls-Windsor 4, Gander 3 (Saturday)
After the Flyers spoiled the Cataracts’ home opener last weekend with a 5-2 win, it was the defending champs turn to return the favour on the strength of a two-goal outing from Fergus and a 37-save performance by Whiffen.
Circelli and Barbour added singles.
Greg Stewart, Steve Brazil and rookie Brett Shute had the Flyers’ goals.
Kennedy stopped 41 of 44 shots faced in a losing cause.
Clarenville 4, Corner Brook 3 (Sunday)
At the Pepsi Centre in Corner Brook, Andrew Sweetland scored once and set up two more and Doug O’Brien assisted on three goals to lead the Caribous past the Royals.
Chad Earle, with the winner, Mitch Oake and Ryan Desrosiers also scored for the Herd.
Captain Michael Hynes, import Phil Mangan and Derick Martin replied for the Royals, who failed to capitalize on eight power-play opportunities.
Ryan Mior stopped 33 of 35 shots faced for his first win as a Caribou.
At the other end of the rink, Bryan Gillis faced 31 shots.
Corner Brook 3, Clarenville 2 SO (Saturday)
Phil Mangan and Matt Bragg scored in the shootout to give the Royals a victory in their first game in front of Corner Brook fans in two years.
Hynes and Bragg scored in regulation for the Royals. Keith Delaney and Brad Crann had the Caribous’ goals.
Gillis was solid in net, stopping 40 of 42 shots in regulation and making saves on Sweetland and Dale Sullivan in the shootout.
Mior faced 32 shots in the Caribous’ net.
Standings
Team GP W L OTL Pts
Cataracts 4 3 1 0 6
Royals 4 2 1 0 5
Caribous 4 2 2 0 4
Flyers 4 1 3 0 2
Scoring leaders
Player GP G A Pts
Andrew Sweetland (CL) 4 3 5 8
Michael Brent (GF-W) 4 4 3 7
Cam Fergus (GF-W) 4 4 2 6
Ray Dalton (G) 4 2 3 5
Phil Mangan (CB) 4 1 4 5
Dale Sullivan (CL) 4 1 4 5
Matt Bragg (CB) 4 2 2 4
Ryan Desrosiers (CL) 4 2 2 4
Collin Circelli (GF-W) 4 1 3 4
Jordan Escott (G) 3 1 3 4
