Junior hockey went old-school this weekend in Windsor.
The PJHL Outdoor Shinny Series consisted of six junior-C teams playing the game as many hockey purists would like to see it, outdoors. Three games, one Friday night and two on Saturday, were played at an outdoor rink at Windsor's historic Lanspeary Park.
The event drew hundreds of hockey fans, braving the chilly weather with layers of clothing and homemade hot beverages. The series was particularly memorable for the Lakeshore Canadiens, Amherstburg Integrity Admirals, and the Wheatley Omstead Sharks.
The Canadiens handled the Petrolia Flyers in the first contest Friday night, a 5-0 shutout. The Flyers next visit the Essex 73s on Tuesday while Lakeshore next hosts Wallaceburg on Friday night.
The Saturday matinee featured the Admirals and the Wallaceburg Lakers, and it was no contest for Amherstburg, who scored three goals in the first period alone for a 5-0 shutout win.
Ticket stub for the PJHL junior-C game between the Lakeshore Canadiens and the Petrolia Flyers at Lanspeary Park in Windsor, January 11, 2019. Photo courtesy of Lakeshore Canadiens/Twitter.
Andrew Clark scored first on a power-play goal just 39 seconds into the contest. Josh Talerico and Travis Campbell also scored for the Addys before the first intermission.
There was no scoring in the second period. Each side had six shots on goal, with the Lakers having two power-play chances to Amherstburg's one in that frame. Amherstburg added goals from Caleb Paquette and Broden Meloche in the third stanza.
Admirals goalminders Ben Larder and Jared Ratko combined to stop all 18 shots they faced. Patrick Timpany and Cameron Lynds put together 25 saves between them in goal for Wallaceburg out of 30 attempts.
Amherstburg returns to the Libro Centre Sunday night to host Wheatley, while Wallaceburg welcomes the Mooretown Flags Wednesday night.
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The Saturday doubleheader concluded with Wheatley and the Blenheim Blades getting together for the nightcap, which began soon after twilight.
The game was a scoreless tie until 18:32 of the opening period when Alixe Saliba scored for the Sharks. The Blades outshot Wheatley 11-9 in the first frame.
Saliba struck again early in the second stanza to extend the Sharks' lead to 2-0, and Mason Gow pushed the advantage to 3-0 a short time later. Will Tetzlaff's power-play goal at 4:19 put the Blades on the board, but Wheatley regained the three-goal advantage before the second intermission when Delaney MacDonald found the net.
Ernie Godden added to the Sharks' lead early in the third, but Tetzlaff got that goal back, this time short-handed, to account for all of the Blades' offence.
Catalin Morin stopped 30 shots in goal for the Sharks. Tyler Letchford had 28 saves in the loss for Blenheim.
The Blades host Petrolia next Saturday night.