U12 Ravens play home-and-home

LEAMINGTON — This past weekend, the Essex Southpoint Ravens U12 hockey team played an exhibition home-andhome series against the Kent Cobras in preparation for their OMHA championship tournament the weekend of April 8-10.

The Ravens tied the first game 4-4 and won the second convincingly by a 6-1 count.

On Saturday in Chatham, Derek Dunn opened the scoring on a nifty pass from Nathan Mariuz by going five hole on the tender.

Three minutes into the middle frame, Kent was able to tie the game.

Dunn then found Mariuz in the slot and he onetimed a shot past an outstretched goalie.

Midway through the second, Owen Derksen fired the puck off the boards down ice and Ben Liebrock chased it down and deked the goalie for a 3-1 lead.

In the third, Maxim Pyne kept the puck in at the line and fired his shot on net. Foster and Liebrock dug at the rebound with Foster finally jamming it in.

The Ravens’ play became sloppy at that point and the Cobras scored a minute later on a tip, followed by another just 12 seconds later.

With 35 seconds left, Kent scored while on the power play resulting in a 4-4 final score. Kevin Ondic held the net for the Ravens.

On Sunday in Leamington, the Ravens team seemed to have learned their lesson and came out a much more determined bunch.

Austin Goudie scored in the first minute, with help from Nash Fuerth.

Foster’s powerplay goal from Liebrock and Kayden Cook put the Ravens up 2-0 before AJ Youssef made it 3-0 from Goudie and Derksen.

Foster and Liebrock then set up Lucas O’Neil, who made no mistake and scored to make it 4-0 after one.

Midway through the second period, Fuerth stole the puck behind the net and slipped it out front to Goudie, who scored his second of the game.

With five minutes left in the game, Liebrock set up O’Neil for his second of the game.

Kent scored late in the game to break the shutout bid for Trent Chevalier, who got the win.