County Royals captain Calvin Wojtaszak had three assists in his team’s 8-4 setback in Tweed Sunday. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)
The County Royals seemed to be steering towards their second straight win in Northern Premier Hockey League action on Sunday in Tweed.
Until they weren’t.
The Royals were in the driver’s seat, leading the contest 3-2 at its half way mark until the Oil Kings found a higher gear and potted four unanswered goals in the late stages of the third for an 8-4 win.
Former Picton Pirate and Wellington Duke standout Dawson Ellis led Tweed’s scoring attack with a pair of goals and three helpers. One time Wellington Dukes captains Jacob Vreugdenhil and Brody Morris also counted for an Oil Kings lineup littered with names recognizable to local junior hockey fans.
For the County, Brayden Forestall’s powerplay tally just 21 seconds into the second period answered a goal scored in the first by former Picton Pirate Pat Millington.
The teams continued to trade goals in the middle stanza. After Mr. Vreugdenhil pushed the hosts ahead 2-1, the Royals would count twice on the power play to establish their first lead of the contest.
Matt Donovan blasted a Tyson Moore feed beyond the reach of Tweed’s Matt Loveys at 13:25 to make it 2-2.
Just over three minutes later, Nolan Van Vlack fired home a Calvin Wojtaszak pass to make it 3-2.
The lead was short lived. Mr. Ellis turned in an unassisted marker 41 seconds later to square the affair 3-3.
A marker off the stick of former Kingston Frontenacs captain Jakob Brahaney at 5:46 put Tweed in front 4-3 heading to the second intermission.
The County’s Cody Clancy responded with his second in as many games as he beat Mr. Loveys with a well placed volley at 14:59.
Tied at 4-4, the Oil Kings had a gusher of goals inside the final ten minutes of the contest to win going away.
Despite the tough finish, Royals goaltender Mic McGrayne was chosen as the second star of the contest. Many of his 46 stops on the afternoon were of the scintillating variety.
The Royals are back in action on Saturday night in Wellington when they host the Deseronto Bulldogs for the first time in franchise history.
Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
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