BEACHES BEST KITCHENER-WATERLOO FOR BACK-TO-BACK WINS

On the first night of back-to-backs, with a three win record, Kitchener-Waterloo travelled to Ted Reeve Arena, the home of the undefeated Toronto Beaches on Thursday. The home side were on the back end of two in two nights following Greg Palmer’s late game winner in Oakville on Wednesday. Powered by a big second period, the Beaches record remained intact with a 12-7 win.

Though KW held a lead twice in the first period, Toronto was able to match goals each time. First, Willem Firth capitalized on a too-many-players penalty to even Nathan Ward’s opening goal. Near the midway mark of the period, Greg Palmer followed Lowen Martin’s unassisted goal. Just before the final minute of the period David Peterkin took off in transition and closed out the period 3-2 for Toronto.

More Toronto transition in the second extended the lead. Three minutes into the period Jack Woynarski ran the floor for his first career OJLL goal. Firth followed that by burying an outlet pass from Caden Hewitt. Firth and Woynarksi traded goals again later in the period, 43 seconds apart after Toronto killed off a full two-minute five-on-three. Nearing the end of the second Hamish McPherson and Peterkin scored to make it 10-3 after two.

Firth and Booth stretched the lead further, before Chris Rathwell scored a third period hat trick. Martin added a second but it was far too little far too late as Toronto move to 10-0 on the season with a 12-7 win.  

Willem Firth once again led Toronto with four goals (and one assist). He now leads the OJLL with 41 in 10 games. Also with multiple goals were Peyton Booth (2), David Peterkin (2 – the third time in his career scoring multiple goals), and Jack Woynarski (2). Thomas Kiazyk stopped 27 of 30 shots faced in the first two periods he played.

Chris Rathwell scored his fifth hat trick of the season in nine games.