Wild down Tamworth Monday to end their four-game skid
By Bill Rea

Brandon Grobowsky converted this scramble in front of the Tamworth net Monday in the Wild's first goal of the day.

It's not much fun watching the King Wild endure a losing streak, but one has to give the guys credit for ending these slumps in impressive fashion.

That's just what happened Monday, as the local junior A heroes gave themselves a Thanksgiving present, in the form of an 8-1 victory over the Tamworth Cyclones.

The score was pretty indicative of how the afternoon went for the host Wild club. They dominated the Cyclones from the start, although it took them almost an entire period before they could figure out how to get the puck by Tamworth goalie Kyle Finch. King outshot Tamworth 22-4 in the opening frame, but there was a little more than two minutes left in the period before they were able to open the scoring, and they were ahead by two at the buzzer.

King was up 4-1 by the end of the second, then got four in the third, including a couple of quick ones late in the session for the 8-1 decision.

In the end, King was ahead 71-27 in the shots-ongoal department.

Matt Salituro led his mates with a pair of goals. Daniel Douglas got a goal and two assists, while Derek Long and Brendan Farrugia each scored once and helped out on another. Luke Fortin picked up a pair of assist for the day. Brandon Grobowsky, Andrew Beatie and Chris Martella each collected single goals, while Brandon Beadow, David Manning and Matt Marchese notched one assist apiece.

"The boys are sick of losing," Head Coach Paul Hampton remarked after the game, as he indicated a certain relief that his men got some of the breaks they deserved.

"If we play like we played today, I think we can play with the other teams," he added.

Monday's win capped a rough weekend for the team in which they were obliged to play four games in as many days, and the first three of those outings ended in defeat.

The Wild was in Gravenhurst Friday night for a date with the South Muskoka Shield, and they came out on the wrong end of a 6-4 final.

Anthony Simone led his side's attack with a pair of goals, while Salituro and John Adams added singles. Marchese and Marc Fortin each contributed two assists.

Hampton later simply said it was "a poor effort," added the team's woes were "just based on a work ethic."

The boys were at home Saturday to face the Innisfil Lakers, but they spent most of the evening trying to catch up, and they fell short when it came to accomplishing that task. The Lakers ended up winning 5- 2.

King fell behind 2-0 in the first period, but were able to get on the score sheet in the last minute of the frame, thanks to Farrugia being nicely set up by Marc Fortin and Simone.

Penalties caused the team grief in the third period, as the Lakers were able to stretch their lead with two power-play goals. The Wild were able to connect again with 4:33 left on the clock on goal by Douglas with help from Keylan Marchant, but Innisfil connected one last time ion the final minute to ice the win.

Hampton later said his men had been in the game, at least until the third, when the penalties started taking the toll.

"When you have a total lack of discipline in the third period . . . it's pretty tough to play teams like that," he observed.

The Wild had traveled north Sunday night for a match with the Nipissing Alouettes, and they again were on the low side of a 6- 4 final.

It was a slow start that worked against the guys that day. They outplayed their foes over the second and third periods, and were ahead 41-32 in the shots department.

Martella collected two of the goals, while Long and Salituro scored one each. Salituro also contributed two assists, while Adams, Marchese and Simone had one apiece.

"We deserved to win that game," Hampton commented later.

He said they had troubles with penalties again, but that was more an issue of bad calls than lack of discipline.

The Wild will be enjoying a week off, at least as far as games are concerned. A match that had been set for Oct. 19 in Innisfil has been postponed, so they will return to action at home Oct. 20, and they will be facing the Lakers, starting at 8:30 p.m.