Barry Wright
It's not unusual for a player to register a goal and an assist in a junior hockey game. But it isn’t normally your goaltender who is racking up the points.
Cam MacAlpine pulled off the rare feat when the Alvinston Flyers defeated the Lakers 5-1 in Great Lakes Junior “C” Hockey League action in Wallaceburg on Sept. 30.
The former Mooretown minor hockey product made 34 saves in the victory, drew an assist on a powerplay goal early in the third period, and was credited with Alvinston's fifth goal when the Laker goaltender misplayed the puck with 90 seconds to play.
“I made a save and the faceoff was in our zone,” explained the 18-year-old goalie. “Their centreman won the draw cleanly back and the puck ended up going out of their zone towards their net, and the Wallaceburg goalie came out of the net to play the puck. And because our forward was putting pressure on their goalie he ended up turning around and firing it into his own net by accident.”
As the last Flyer to touch the puck, MacAlpine was given credit for the goal, the first of his hockey career.
“When they announced it, I just had the biggest smile on my face,” he said.
MacAlpine took some good-natured ribbing after the game, noting his two points are more points than some other regulars on the team.