St. Patrick's held the Northern Vikings to only one goal in the first two periods of Thursday's LSSAA hockey, but by the third period, the cracks in the defence started to split wide open, as the Vikings poured in four goals in the final period for a 5-2 win.

The Vikings managed to get pressure deep into the Irish zone, and get shots on net, but they were turned away, and cleared out. For the first period, the Irish seemed to be playing 'hang-on hockey', trying to prevent the Vikings from pounding in goal after goal. The defence played solid, not allowed the Vikings speedy forwards to get behind them and have a chance at a breakaway. When the Irish did have the puck, it result in a fair amount of 1 on 2 plays in which a wrist shot was sent from a long distance and easily caught be the Vikings goalie.

 In the second period, more of the same style of hockey continued. It would be only a matter of time before a goal beat the Irish wall that was up, and half way through the first, the Vikings finally put a goal in the back of the net on a powerplay, as Dan Charlton sent a low wrist shot from the blue line on net, and it beat the Irish net minder. For the remainder of the period it seemed as if the Vikings would being to put in goals, as they would win the races to the puck, and get it down low, while the Irish would still only get long distance shots in on net.

By the third, the defence of the Irish could not longer stop the Viking offence. Brandon Burr would send a low shot towards the net that hit the stick of Reid Wilcox and deflect passed a sliding goalie for the second goal of the game. Minutes later while on a powerplay, the Irish have trouble cycling the puck and it gets stolen by Ryan Dayman, who comes in alone on Jordan Dugas, and beats the goalie short side for a 3-0 lead.

The Irish would finally begin to get the puck down low and put pressure on the Viking goalie. Bradley Columbus would sit in front of the net and get fed a pass which he back handed into the net to make it a two goal game and get the Irish on the board. Unfortunatley the Vikings would respond, as Brandon Szusz is left alone in the slot, and sends a wrist shot passes Dugas for a 4-1 lead. Adam Lane would make it 5-1 as he pushed hard to the net, and chipped the puck over Dugas shoulder. Joel Action would add one more for St. Patrick's late, but the Vikings would come off with a 5-2 win.

Jordan Dugas had a stellar performance despite the goals allowed in the third period. Dugas made critical saves in all periods to keep the Irish constantly in the game, holding the Viking offence to a single goal in the first two periods.

With the victory, the Vikings move to 2-0-1 and are tied for second with the LCCVI Lancers, yet remain a point back of the undefeated St. Christopher Cyclones, whom they will be playing next Wednesday, December 8th.

St. Patrick's falls to 0-2-0 on the season. They will travel to Petrolia on Wednesday, December 8th to take on LCCVI, while also next week, the Irish are scheduled to make up their first week game against SCITS.