Aeros Lost 6-1 to Arnprior Friday Night in EOJHL

Arnprior – The Athens Aeros lost a 6-1 decision to the Arnprior Packers on Friday night in EOJHL action in Arnprior.

The Arnprior Packers used a dominant middle frame to power past the Athens Aeros 6–1, strengthening their lead atop the Richardson Division.

After a scoreless first period, the Packers exploded in the second. Just 46 seconds in, Carter Downs opened the scoring on the power play, burying his 12th from Jackson Taylor and Ian Kennedy. At 7:13, Ethan Smith doubled the lead on a setup from Downs and Brendan Lynch, and Smith struck again at 12:44 for his second of the night, finishing a pass from Kennedy and Cameron Sheppard to make it 3–0.

Athens responded 64 seconds later when Nate Thompson scored his first of the season from Alex Tornberg and Parker Kealey, but Arnprior regained full momentum.

In the third, Downs added his second of the game just 51 seconds in, extending the lead to 4–1. Jackson Taylor made it 5–1 on a power play at 11:48, and with 1:38 left, Andrew Carter scored his first of the season—also on the power play—to close out the win.

Tristan Hodgson was solid for Arnprior, stopping 26 of 27 shots. Athens goaltender Marshall Greig made 34 saves.

Arnprior improves to 12-5-0-0, now five points ahead of Renfrew with two games in hand. Athens falls to 5-13-4-0.

The 73s were outshot 40 to 27 by the Packers.

Athens travels to Renfrew to face the Timberwolves on Friday night, starting at 7:30 pm.

Game Summary:

1st Period:
No Scoring.

Penalties-Carter Arn (interference), 3:14; Poulin Ath (roughing), 6:31; Rickard Arn (roughing), 11:29; Kealey Ath (tripping, tripping), 12:52; Dixie Ath (check to the head, misconduct – check to head), 19:22.

2nd Period:
1, Arnprior, Downs 12 (Taylor, Kennedy), 0:46 (PP). 2, Arnprior, Smith 17 (Downs, Lynch), 7:13. 3, Arnprior, Smith 18 (Kennedy, Sheppard), 12:44. 4, Athens, Thompson 1 (Tornberg, Kealey), 13:48.

Penalties-Hiel Arn (major-check to the head), 1:20; Panciuk Ath (slashing), 11:48; Dixie Ath (slashing), 12:44; Downs Arn (slashing), 12:44; Bishop Arn (boarding ), 14:51.

3rd Period:
5, Arnprior, Downs 13 (Lynch, Smith), 0:51. 6, Arnprior, Taylor 5 (Sheppard, Smith), 11:48 (PP). 7, Arnprior, Carter 1 (Bell, Lynch), 18:22 (PP).

Penalties-Casey Arn (hooking), 1:48; Carter Arn (cross checking), 7:19; Dixie Ath (roughing), 10:45; Palmer Ath (slashing, slashing), 15:24; Rickard Arn (slashing), 15:24; Greig Ath (roughing), 17:53.

Shots on Goal-Athens 5-11-11-27. Arnprior 13-12-15-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Athens 0 / 6; Arnprior 3 / 9.
Goalies-Athens, Greig 3-9-2-0 (40 shots-34 saves). Arnprior, Hodgson 9-2-0-0 (27 shots-26 saves).