Hockey / STARTING THE YEAR OFF RIGHT

STARTING THE YEAR OFF RIGHT

Date:  Source: OHA Glanbrook Rangers

DUNDAS (Jan. 2) -- The Rangers earned their first victory of the new decade as they downed the Dundas Blues 5-2.  The win closed out the Rangers' season series against the Blues with a 4-2 record and kept Glanbrook hot on the heels of the Grimsby Peach Kings in the South Bloomfield Division race.  The Rangers are a point back with a key contest against their rivals looming next week.

Noah Bollert (pictured) opened the scoring for the Rangers with his 29th goal at 3:31 of the first period.  It was the first goal in five games, and only the second in the last eight games for Glanbrook's top scorer, who has been among the league goal-scoring leaders all season.  He currently stands one goal shy of co-leaders Jack Birkett of Mount Forest and Jake Luke of Norwich. 

Dundas's Adam Kozlowski knotted the game at 1-1 just a couple of minutes after Bollert, but Glanbrook defenceman Dallas Nadasdi restored the Rangers lead with his fourth of the season at 13:43.  The teams traded goals late in the second period with Noah Matteson striking for his 23rd at  18:24, before Danny Attridge quickly retaliated for Dundas 30 seconds later. 

The Rangers assumed control in the final frame with Connor McQuhae scoring his 14th goal unassisted just 57 seconds into the period and defenceman David Cherubin notching his first goal as a Ranger at 11:28.  Goaltender Matt Lukic pre-empted any attempt by Dundas to rally by stopping Andrew Salt on a penalty shot at 12:45.  Lukic earned his 15th win with a 24-save effort. 

NOTES:  McQuhae has now scored in five straight games, showing flashes of the form he displayed last year when he collected 38 goals and had an 11-game scoring streak.