The Trenton Golden Hawks started off their post-Christmas schedule the same way they went into the break – with a win.
The Hawks doubled the Lindsay Muskies 4-2 on Friday to move within three points of the idle Stouffville Spirit for first in the OJHL’s East Conference.
Jamie Darlison got the scoring started late in the first period by gloving down an airborne puck at centre ice, streaking in and beating Lindsay goalie George Cote on the glove-hand side for his 21st of the season
Joey Brehmer added to the advantage by deking out Cote to score his 16th of the year, and the score ping-ponged back and forth from there.
The Muskies got on the board via Ajay Rai on the powerplay, before Kale Mace deposited his sixth of the season with a little more than three minutes to play in the second.
Kai Williams pulled Lindsay back to within one before the frame ended, but Trenton proved tough to budge in the third.
The Hawks strong defence held the Muskies to five shots and managed to salt away the win on a Beckett Ewart marker, his 14th of the year.
Duncan Schneider and Andrew Wycisk had two assists, while Brehmer, Taeo Artichuk, Jack Ziliotto and Lucas Digiantommaso added single helpers.
Hayden Jeffery kicked away 21 Lindsay chances to improve the Hawks to 26-7-0-2 on the campaign with 54 points.
Trenton is off for the rest of the weekend, ahead of a return home on Friday at 7:30 p.m. for Round 2 of the Battle of Quinte versus the Wellington Dukes.
SATURDAY LOCAL HOCKEY SCHEDULE
Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Belleville Senators 7 p.m. (Women in Sports Night)
Wellington Dukes @ Aurora Tigers 7 p.m.
Napanee Raiders @ Picton Pirates 3 p.m.
Amherstview Jets vs Frankford Huskies 4:30 p.m. (@ Brighton)
Thunder @ Panthers 7:30 p.m.
