Bradley Chenier scored three times and the line of Chenier-Potts-Baker combined for seven points overall as the Battalion end their losing streak thanks to a 6-5 road win over the Sudbury Wolves in Sudbury Sunday afternoon.
“it’s huge and good to get back on track right now,” said Bradley Chenier to the OHL tonight about his first career hat trick
“I’m happy to get the hat trick and I have to thank my linemates,” added the Battalion forward who grew up in nearby Hanmer.
For the Troops, they improve to 3-0 on the season against the Wolves, as they put an end to a six-game winless streak (0-5-1) and the Battalion move within one point of the fourth-place Sudbury Wolves in the Central Division.
Brandon Coe got the Troops on the board with his third of the campaign at 9:03 of the opening frame. Coe went wide on Wolves goalie Jake McGrath and banked a shot off the Wolves goalie from behind the net to open the scoring for the Troops.
The Wolves responded as Anthony Tabak beat starter Julian Sime which evened things at 13:57.
Bradley Chenier finished off a nifty give and go with Kyle Potts which made it 2-1 Battalion at 15:51. For the Sudbury product that was his fourth of the season.
Not long after that, Brett McKenzie fired a shot down coming down the left wing that went off the post and Justin Brazeau was “Johnny on the Spot” as he jumped on the rebound off the post and fired it home which made it 3-1 Troops at 16:57.
That goal spelled the end of the afternoon for starter Jake McGrath as he was replaced after the third goal by Marshall Frappier. McGrath stopped 9 of 12 shots he faced.
Brett McKenzie told the OHL Tonight in the first intermission that he was impressed with the quick start.
“We worked hard in the first period and we really need this win for points and I think we are doing good,” stated McKenzie.
The Troops increase the lead as Luke Burghardt takes advantage of another Wolves turnover beating new Wolves goalie Marshall Frappier at 4:37.
The Wolves got some life after a great individual effort by Darian Pilon as he outmuscled two Battalion defenders and slipped the puck underneath Sime which made it 4-2 at 9:50 of the second period.
Then near the midway point of the period, the goals came fast and furious.
The Battalion capitalize as Wolves failed to clear their zone as Andy Baker fed Bradley Chenier in the slot and he made no mistake which made it 5-2 Troops at 8:06 of the third.
Anthony Tabak found a Reagan O’Grady point shot and slipped it past Sime which made it 5-3 at 10:10.
Then, right off the draw, Bradley Chenier got the puck off the centre ice face-off, walked down the left wing and beat Frappier to make it 6-3 at 10:19.
The Wolves pulled within 2 goals when Drake Pilon beat Sime at 14:02 with a shot from just above the slot to make it 6-4.
The Wolves pull within one again with the net empty as again a Sime rebound was costly as Michael Pezzetta buried the rebound at 17:50 to make it 6-5.
The Wolves continued to put the pressure on the Battalion but Sime and his defenders were able to hold off the hungry Wolves.
