Leger Powers Wallaceburg to First Win With 5-Point Night

Dustin Cope of the Wallaceburg Lakers - Photo by Ian Kennedy

The Wallaceburg Lakers and Kingsville Comets took to the ice Wednesday night as the last two winless teams remaining in the Great Lakes Junior C loop. When the final buzzer sounded however, that number was down to one as the Wallaceburg Lakers, with a large boost from veteran Norm Leger, grabbed their first win of the season 8-5.

Kingsville got out to an early lead in the game after Wallaceburg’s Mike Myers skated to the sin bin for interference, allowing the Comets’ Justin Parker to convert for a powerplay goal.

Before the first period was out, Wallaceburg forward Lucais Meyskens scored, assisted by Dustin Cope and Jordan Durston to equalize the game heading into the second period.

After peppering the Kingsville net, Wallaceburg finally solved Comets goalie Marcus Rees again as Chris Taylor slid one by Rees. Cameron Fraser picked up the lone assist on the goal. Later in the second, Norm Leger potted a powerplay marker from Jeff Nolfo to put Wallaceburg up 3-1. Mike Myers continued the Wallaceburg enslaught scoring to make it 4-1. Durston picked up his second helper of the game with Robert Towesly also assisting on the goal.

Kingsville however didn’t back down from the deficit, as they scored twice before the period was out to pull the game to 4-3 heading into the third period.

The third period started with a flurry of scoring as Kingsville’s Andrew Meloche scored his second goal of the game to tie the score at 4-4, before Scott Lubbers restored a 5-4 lead for the Lakers. Less than a minute later however, the Comets streaked back with Logan Vercruysse knotting the game at 5-5. Scoring the 4th goal of the period in only 5-minutes, Jeff Nolfo put Wallaceburg ahead again, with Norm Leger picking up his third point of the game on the assist.

Leger continued his hot night setting up Tyson Isaac who scored midway through the third to put the Lakers ahead 7-5, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Leger struck again later in the third period, this time on the powerplay assisted by Durston giving the veteran forward 5-points on the night.

Wallaceburg travels to Dresden Friday night for the next installment of the Highway 78 series against the Kings. Dresden has won each of the first two meetings between these teams.