Two wins on home ice

The Clarenville Caribous have just a one-point lead over first-place rivals Grand Falls Cataracts in the West Coast Senior Hockey league.

Their league standing is the result of two wins on the weekend at the Clarenville Events Centre.

But the wins were no walk-aways.

Saturday's game was by virtue of a 2-1 victory in the first period. The rest of the game was with each side equally determined to claim a win.

Clarenville was the first on the scoreboard with a goal by Andrew Pearcey at 6:54, off a pass from Ryan Lauzon. Just four minutes later, at 10:28, Mark Meade scored on a setup from Steve Gosse and Mitch Oake.

Keith Delaney notched a single-handed goal at 12:24 to put the Cataracts on the board, but that was the last goal for the evening.

The first period was a hard-hitting affair and several players got time outs for bad behaviour.

Paul Roebothan and Brandon Nichols of the Cats were each handed 10-minute game misconducts. Jeremy Kavanaugh of the Caribous was called for charging and ousted from the game.

That call came after Andrew Brennan of the Cataracts took a hit from behind and took a hard tumble, crumpling into the Caribous gate just as the Clarenville team was making a change-up. Brennan, obviously shaken, was helped off the ice his coaches and spent the rest of the period collecting himself in the dressing room. He returned, however, to play later in the game.

David Victor was also tossed from the Saturday game. The Caribous defenseman was called for spearing, was handed a 10-minute game misconduct and tossed for the night as the result of a fracas with Robethon.

The second period was lackluster as both teams were making special effort to stay out of the penalty box. Only four penalties were handed out during this stanza, two-minute minors to each side.

The Cataracts turned up the heat in the third period, forcing Jason Churchill and the Caribous defensemen to work up a sweat, and Clarenville fans to hold their breaths through some anxious moments.

While Grand Falls took the loss on Saturday, their defeat didn't come from lack of effort.

They managed 37 shots on the Caribous goal, while Cataracts goalie Doug Jewer took 40 shots.

Down to the wire

With the lead for first place tied after Saturday night, fans were expecting an intense and exciting match-up on Sunday. And they didn't go away disappointed.

The cheer went up from the Clarenville fans at 56 second in when Ryan Lauzon scored on a pass from Andrew Pearcey to put the Caribous on the board.

Grand Falls responded at 5:35, with Ryan Delaney scoring on a powerplay. The Cataracts managed just one more in the first, with Brandon Nicholas picking up the point.

The Caribous added two, off the sticks of Brad Crann and Mitch Oake, to finish the period 3-2 in their favour.

Each team scored once in the second, with Andrew Pearcey hitting the mark for Clarenville and Martin Lapointe collecting for the Cataracts.

Grand Falls outscored Clarenville in the third, scored three goals to Clarenville's two, forcing the match into a shootout.

Chris Mooney saved the day for Clarenville, outwitting Doug Jewer to give the Caribous the win, and bragging rights for first place - at least for the moment.

The battle for first place is now down to the wire.

This weekend Clarenville is in Deer Lake to play the Red Wings, while Grand Falls will meet Corner Brook.

The outcome of those games will determine which team hoists the first place league trophy.

editor@thepacket.ca