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Wheatley  5           Dresden  3             January 11, 2008 

          The Dresden Jr. Kings failed to gain ground on the Blenheim Blades for the final playoff spot Friday night when they suffered a 5-3 loss at home to the Wheatley Sharks.  Two short-handed goals by the Sharks were the difference in the game.

          Dresden opened the scoring at 4:58 of the first period on a power play tally by Patrick Rice.  Dan Hyatt and Jake Welch drew the assists.  A minute later Wheatley struck for their first short-handed goal.  While buzzing around the Sharks’ zone, the Kings’ mishandled the puck at the point, allowing Jordan Carnevale to skate in all alone on netminder, Cameron Graham.  Graham stopped Carnevale on his first effort, but Carnevale put in his own rebound.  The period ended 1-1.

          Wheatley put the Jr. Kings in a hole starting the second period with two quick goals.  First it was Shawn Quigley at 2:04, and then Todd Holland scored thirteen seconds later to put the Sharks up 3-1.  Kyle Vink deflected a point shot from Tim Doermer at 16:40 to cut the lead to one.  Tyler Quigley added to the Kings’ woes on a disputed goal with 00:14 seconds left in the period.  The puck went in off his leg, which the Jr. Kings thought was kicked in.  The referee disagreed, and the Sharks went to the dressing room with a two-goal lead.

          Veteran John Montague scored the Sharks’ second short-handed goal at 9:15 of the third, giving Wheatley a 5-2 lead.  Dan Hyatt closed out the scoring at 13:05 with a power play goal.  Vink and Kevin Verburg assisted on the play.  Cam Graham played a strong game in the nets for Dresden as Wheatley outshot the Kings, 34-28.  The Tunstall Three Stars were …….. Patrick Rice, Jake Welch and Dan Hyatt.

          The Jr. Kings travel to Essex on Tuesday night (Jan. 15) and return home on Friday (Jan. 18) to play the Wallaceburg Lakers at 7:30.