Back-to-back hat tricks and two superb goaltending performances earned the redhot Kerry Park Islanders two more victories last weekend.
Braedan Cross scored three times in a 9-2 win over Peninsula on Saturday, and Abe Lamontagne had his first Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League hat trick on Sunday as the Isles edged the Saanich Braves 7-6. Goalie Leighton Williams was stellar in both contests, racking up 90 saves over the two days.
"We just played solid games," owner Mark Osmond said. "We got 100 per cent effort from all the boys."
Only two of the 18 Kerry Park skaters finished the game without a point in Saturday's rout of the Braves. The Isles led 3-1 after the first period and 6-2 after the second, never looking back.
In addition to Cross's hat trick, Zack Smith had a goal and two assists, Nick Kean, Jamie Jensen and Nick White had a goal and an assist each, and Lamontagne and Matt Osmond scored singles.
Lynden Eddy, Tanner Browne and David Bittner put up two assists apiece, and Ty Smith, Adam Page, Patrick Poets, Keenan Eddy, Kyle Green and Taylor Armbruster each had one helper. Williams turned aside 55 shots to earn the win.
Sunday's game featured multiple momentum changes. The Braves opened the scoring just 22 seconds in and held a 3-0 lead before Zack Smith got the Isles on the board with nine seconds left in the frame.
In the second period, it was Kerry Park's turn to get going early as Cross scored just 10 seconds in. Lamontagne notched his first of the game soon after, and Cross gave the Isles their first lead of the game with his second goal. The Braves roared back and led 5-4 at the end of the frame.
Lamontagne posted two more in the third period, sandwiched around a Saanich goal, and Jensen banged home the winner with just over four minutes left to play.
Cross and Smith each added single assists to their offensive totals on the afternoon.
Page, Armbruster and both Eddy brothers finished with two assists, and Williams made another 35 saves for his 10th win of the season.
The Isles have now won their first four games of December, out-scoring the opposition 30-14 in that span. They were aiming to continue that trend this week as they visited the Braves on Wednesday and the Victoria Cougars on Thursday in their last dates before Christmas.