Sharks remain perfect in the new year with three solid wins

By Greg Coulter

The Wheatley Omstead Sharks, bolstered by superb goaltending and a solid defensive style, racked up three wins in five days last week.

Wednesday at home, Jaxon Drysdale stopped all 25 shots en route to a 6-0 Sharks’ whitewash of Dresden. His teammates fired a whopping 57 the other way, including 24 in the first period.

The Sharks led 3-0 after two and put the game away three goals in two minutes in the final stanza.

Braden Caetano (2), Kyle Kelly and Blake McNally (1 goal,1 assist), Devin St. Pierre and Jak Thiessen dented the twine with two assists each from Ryan Cronheimer, Matt Carvalho, Kyle Greene, and Shannon Olson. Ethan Chittle added a single assist.

Friday in Lakeshore the Sharks found themselves being outshot throughout the game, including a 14-6 disadvantage in the third. Ethan Handley put on another goaltending clinic, handling all 36 shots, and the Sharks rewarded him with a Sylvain Lessard powerplay goal midway through the third period to escape with a 1-0 victory.

Former Lakeshore player Josh Chauvin and Matt Carvalho added assists.

Sunday at Walpole Island, the Sharks jumped out to a 2-0 lead and let their foot off the gas, allowing the home team to gain a short-lived second period tie. But 24 seconds later, Ethan Chittle responded and the Sharks added three more to seal a 6-2 victory. Sharks held a 38-19 shot advantage, garnering Jaxon Drysdale his third straight win.

Rounding out the scoring were Sylvain Lessard and Braedon Caetano with two each. Devin St. Pierre and Blake McNally added singles. Assists were had by Shannon Olson (two), Josh Chauvin, Kyle Greene, Jak Thiessen and Colm Smith.

“Other than a little sluggish at Lakeshore,” Sharks coach Josh Carnevale was happy with “a win is a win.”

Fans are reminded there is no home game this week as the Sharks head to Mooretown Saturday and Blenheim Sunday for a key third-place battle. They round out four games in eight days with back-to-back home games Wednesday 25th and Saturday 28th (4:30 makeup game) against Lakeshore.

Shout out to long-time minor hockey fan Bill Hammond spotted last week at his grandson’s game.

Sharks rookie Jak Thiessen rounds out the scoring with a shorthanded breakaway marker last week at home against Dresden. With his solid play this year, Jak has added five goals and four assists, contributing to the Sharks third place league standings. The water bottle even jumped with excitement. SUN photo by Greg Coulter