MULTIMEDIA

The Wildcats got on the board first when they scored a powerplay goal, one of two extra-strength markers they'd get on this night to take a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. Twenty seconds later Steve Kelly answered back with his second goal of the year from Kevin Cribari and Jimmy Ball to even things up. With just under two minutes remaining in the period, Paul Robinson scored his third of the year from Robert Burrows and Jason Fraccaro to give the Waxers the lead for the first time in the contest. It would be a lead they'd not relinquish.

Ball's goal in the opening minute of the second period made it 3-1, assisting were Patrick Diotte and Kevin Tompkins. Midway through the frame Tompkins scored a pretty goal, on the powerplay, from Jason Young and Mark Menonte. Three minutes later Jason Duffy hit the mesh for his second of the year, Bobby Fitkin and Brent Pollock drawing helpers. With just over six minutes remaining Menonte delivered the sixth straight Waxer unanswered marker, his seventh of the year, from Ball and Tompkins to make the score 6-1. The Wildcats would score a late powerplay goal to cut the lead to 6-2.

Early in the third period the Waxers scored perhaps as quick a powerplay goal as is physically possible. Three seconds after a Wildcat was sent off for a minor infraction Fraccaro won the draw and fed a wide open Robinson who swept high into the empty cage, his fourth of the year and lifted the score to 7-2. Less than a minute later Fraccaro converted a feed from Albert Ferrante for his fifth of the year, Robinson also drawing an assist on the play. The Wildcats would conclude the scoring for the contest with seven minute remaining but could get no closer.

Despite the lopsided score this was a contest that was clearly not one of the Waxers better efforts. They demonstrated their explosive scoring punch at times and the result reflects this but this was not one to put in the diary section marked "well played games". At times the Waxers completely abandoned their netminder who faced far too many attacks from the Wildcats and was up to the challenge and fully deserved the victory.

An old cliche is that the sign of a good hockey team is that it can win games that it plays poorly, if that's true, then the Waxers are a notch above as they blew out an opponent despite relatively poor play.

Still the result must be viewed in perspective, this was the third game in four nights, the previous two against rival opponents, good hockey clubs that the Waxers put away in convincing fashion. With many youngsters on the club they are still learning that the game is sixty minutes long and that all opponents are capable of winning on any given night. Given that perspective the Waxers have nothing to be ashamed of, this is a learning hockey club, one that understands that they were less than their best, but then again, what hockey club is always at their best.

Dan Leclair making his second consecutive start was sharp, turning aside 33 of 36 shots. Many of his saves were tough stops where he was left to his own devices as the forwards and blueliners were less than rapid in coming to his aid.

The hit of the night was in the second period, about six minutes in and with the Waxers still very much playing a contest in doubt, leading by a 3-1 score, Ferrante literally flattened a Wildcat foward with a thunderous check just outside the Waxer blueline.

The Waxers next opponent are the Picking Panthers, the very same club that handed Markham their only loss of the season. Since that loss the Waxers have spun seven straight victories and will be looking to add to their modest winning streak with a revenge victory over the Panthers Friday night (Oct. 6, 8:00pm).

G A M E   S T A T I S T I C S

No.

 G

A

PTS

PIM

PPG

SHG

GWG

TOTALS