Sharks swarm opposition down the stretch

By Greg Coulter

WHEATLEY — Balanced scoring and continuing rock-solid goaltending have propelled the Wheatley Omstead Sharks within striking distance of home ice playoff advantage.

Their position was bolstered by three wins with a single loss last week, playing those four games in five nights.

Tuesday against surging Essex, a slow start became a hole too big to climb out of en route to a 6-3 loss.

They played shift-forshift over the last half of the game with a third period Essex tally sealing their fate. Ashton Anderson, Sam Van Gellecum and Matt Thomas tallied with Jackson Ford stopping 24 shots and the Sharks firing 24.

Wednesday night at home, a three-goal outburst in a six-minute span allowed the Sharks to coast to a 4-1 win over Dresden.

Matt Carvalho, Mason Gow, Devin St. Pierre and Brett Thomas dented the twine with Ethan Carlone handling 19 saves while the Sharks fired 41.

A return to Dresden on Friday saw much of the same as the Sharks continued to gain steam, outshooting the opposition 40-12, enroute to a 4-1 victory.

Special teams knotted two third-period goals ensuring the victory. Ethan Handley handled the net minding with Ethan Litster, Kristian Pelling, Matt Carvalho and Matt Thomas contributing goals.

Saturday in Wallaceburg, the Sharks unleashed a 63-shot tsunami of offence highlighted by a third period scoring spree of six goals in four minutes en route to a 13-2 drubbing of the opposition.

Mason Gow Kristian Pelling and Braedon Caetano celebrate the second goal of the game Wednesday night enroute to a 4-0 whitewash of the Dresden Kings last Wednesday at home.

SUN photo by Greg Coulter

Ethan Carlone was kept relatively busy with 23 saves in this wide-open affair. Matt Carvalho led the way with the hat trick. Brett Thomas, Devin St. Pierre added two each, while Ashton Anderson, Colm Smith, Brett Thomas, Shannon Olson, Sam Van Gellecum and Stefan Jacobs notched singles. Over the four game stretch every skater hit the scoresheet.

“Great to see secondary scoring, especially from the defence, and we continue to receive outstanding goaltending,” said coach Josh Carnevale.

With the last regular season home game this week, the Sharks will continue the tradition of honouring overage players. Dawson Iles, Brett Enns and Drew Denomey from last year with Dallas Anderson, Brett Thomas, Mason Gow and Braydon Davis are being honoured in a pregame ceremony.