Ramblers Rally to Defeat Wildcats 4–2

On a crisp October 11th evening at Amherst Stadium, the Amherst Ramblers gave their hometown fans a performance worth remembering. With 965 fans packed into the stands, the Ramblers overcame an early two-goal deficit. They rallied to defeat the visiting Valley Wildcats 4–2 in a high-energy, penalty-laden Maritime Hockey League showdown.

The game opened with a bang for the visiting Wildcats, who wasted no time silencing the Amherst crowd. At 7:20 of the first period, Valley’s MacDonald found the net, giving his team an early 1–0 lead. Just over two minutes later, at 9:23, Pilotte, with an assist from Ford, doubled the Wildcats’ advantage.

With time ticking down in the period, the Ramblers responded with fury. Their first spark came on the power play. At 14:03, Zach Wheeler, set up by Jeremie Richard and Thomas Gagnon, tipped a shot past Valley goaltender Hogan, cutting the deficit to 2–1. The building erupted, and Amherst rode the wave of momentum.

Just 27 seconds later, the comeback was complete. Cooper Cormier, assisted by Anthony Gaudet and Mark Corbett, capitalized on a pinballing puck and tied the game at 2–2, breathing new life into the home bench and the crowd.

The first period also featured its share of rough stuff. Amherst’s Reynolds and Peddigrew were handed misconducts, while Valley’s Befekadu received a major penalty and a game misconduct for fighting, adding to the intensity of an already physical matchup.

As the second period unfolded, the emotional tone remained high, but the goal-scoring came to a halt. Both teams tightened defensively, exchanging minor penalties but unable to convert on their chances. Amherst’s O’Blenis and Gaudet spent time in the box, as did Valley’s Flanagan, who received a 10-minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Neither side could find the net, and the period ended as it began — tied 2–2 — setting the stage for a dramatic third.

If the second period was a stalemate, the third was Amherst’s breakthrough. Just 1:16 into the final frame, Bailey Shortall pounced on a power-play opportunity, finishing a play set up by Ty Peddigrew and Jeremie Richard to give the Ramblers a 3–2 lead — their first of the night.

With the lead secured, Amherst locked things down. Their defense held firm, and goaltender Lyam LeBlanc stood tall, turning away every Valley attempt in the third. The Wildcats pressed late, pulling their goalie for the extra attacker, but their desperation turned into disaster. In the final minute, Thomas Gagnon capitalized on the empty net, sealing the victory with an unassisted goal to make it 4–2.

The Numbers Behind the Win

Amherst fired 43 shots on goal — 15 in each of the first two periods and 13 more in the third. Valley countered with 34 shots, distributed fairly evenly across all three periods. Special teams played a key role in the outcome: Amherst went 2-for-3 on the power play, while Valley went 0-for-4, unable to convert when it mattered.

In net, Lyam LeBlanc was solid, stopping 32 of 34 shots to improve his record to 4–3 on the season. Valley’s Hogan, despite facing 43 shots, managed 39 saves but dropped to 0–3.

For the Ramblers, this was more than just a win — it was a comeback filled with grit, resilience, and discipline when it counted most. Their special teams delivered, their goaltending held firm, and their response to adversity showed the kind of mettle that wins games in the MHL.