CARDINAL – For the second weekend in a row, the league-leading South Grenville Rangers added to their win column and extended their dominance of the NCJHL standings at the halfway mark of the 2019-20 season.
The Rangers first hosted the North Dundas Rockets on November 30th in Cardinal.
Rangers’ captain Brody Ranger opened the scoring 12 minutes into the game (from Nate Medaglia and Jordan Dodge) to take a 1-0 lead.
Later in the period, Cooper Kingston (from Joe MacLean and Dylan Sharpley) extended South Grenville’s lead to 2-0.
A slashing call early in the second period put the Rangers on the power play where Brayden Forestell (from Medaglia and Cameron Dillon) made short work of the Rockets’ blueliners. Rangers led 3-0.
The Rockets countered 12 minutes later with their lone goal in the game, a short tap in by Nicholas Carroll on Rangers goalie Tyler Desjardin.
Early in the third period, Forestell (from Dillon and Matthew Berry) blasted a shot from outside the hashmarks to give the Rangers another insurance goal. Jacob McGonegal (from Kyle Dillabough and Jordan Poulin) scored a late power play goal to secure the 5-1 win for the Rangers.
South Grenville played the West Carleton Inferno the next day in Carp, resulting in a 3-0 shut out win.
The teams were deadlocked 0-0 through the first 20 minutes of the game.
Early in the second period, Medaglia (from Dillabough and Ranger) scored his first goal in only his second game in the league.
At the halfway point in the game, Kingston (from Cole Edgely and MacLean) put the Rangers up 2-0. Late in the period, Dillon (from Forestell and Aiden Bailey) extended South Grenville’s lead further.
Leading 3-0 in the third period, the Rangers defence held the Inferno’s offence to just five shots for the period.
Rangers won 3-0 as Desjardins, in his second straight start, claimed his first shut out of the season in goal.
South Grenville’s expanded goalie roster now hold the top four spots in the league’s standings with a combined goals-against-average of 1.625, and a 16-2 record.
The league leading Rangers have opened a six point lead in the overall standings, and have a 13 point lead over the Rockets in the West Division.
South Grenville visit the Metcalfe Jets on December 6th and host the Inferno in Cardinal December 7th.
