The hometown Conception Bay North CeeBee Stars recorded what may have been the team's biggest win of the season Saturday night, thumping the first place Clarenville Caribous 7-1 in provincial senior hockey action at the stadium in Harbour Grace.
With the win, the CeeBees moved ahead of idle Mount Pearl into fourth spot, marking the first time this season the CeeBees have not occupied the basement.
The CeeBees (6-9-2-14) have been surging since the start of the second half, having recorded two big wins over defending Herder champs Grand Falls-Windsor, and now a shellacking of the Caribous (15-3-1-31).
CeeBees' captain Matthew Thomey had three goals to lead the winners. The offensive outburst came on the same day that Thomey celebrated his 26th birthday. It was his first multi-goal game this season.
"It was one of those games," said Thomey, "I was in the right place at the right time."
Also scoring for the CeeBees were Colin Feehan, with a pair, Jamie Tobin and Shawn Wadden. Ray Dalton and Mike Dyke chipped in with two assists each, while Mark Tobin, Kyle Doucet, Chris Sparkes, Matthew French, Keith Delaney and Ryan Delaney also picked up helpers.
Ryan Desrosiers scored the lone goal for Clarenville, a shorthanded marker that knotted the game at 1-1 at 13:42 of the first. It was the closest the Caribous would get.
The visitors appeared flat most of the game, while the CeeBees were flying high from start to finish.
It was an abysmal return to action for Clarenville's No. 1 keeper, Jason Churchill, who has missed the last handful of games. Churchill was peppered with 41 shots on the night, and was visibly upset as the CeeBees started to run up in the score in the second and third periods.
CeeBees goalie Doug Jewer allowed just one goal on 25 shots.
"We're starting to come together as a group," Thomey added. "This team is for real.
"We all want a championship, regardless of how the first half of the year went."
The two teams will meet again Sunday in Clarenville in the second game of a home-and-home series.
editor@cbncompass.ca
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