Joel Vanderlaan
@jovanderlaan
The Kingston Frontenacs opened their first-round best-of-seven series, defeating the Sudbury Wolves 4-1 on Friday night at Slush Puppie Place.
Continuing to build on the best offensive season of his career, Cedrick Guindon opened the scoring for Kingston, firing a wrist shot past Nate Krawchuk at 5:48 of the first period. Moments later, rearguard Vann Williamson doubled the lead with a well-placed point shot, giving the Frontenacs a 2-0 advantage heading into the first intermission.
A feisty start saw fighting majors handed out to Kingston's Gage Heyes and Ethan Miedema, and Sudbury's Nathan Villeneuve and Chase Coughlan.
Kingston extended its lead in the second period with the lone goal of the frame, as Quinte Red Devils graduates Cal Uens and Ethan Miedema connected on a nifty passing play to make it 3-0.
Sudbury finally broke through in the third, ending Charlie Schenkel’s shutout bid when Chase Coughlan capitalized on the power play just past the midway point. In the final minutes, Guindon would score his second of the night into an empty net.
Schenkel turned aside 20 shots in the victory, while Krawchuk was busy at the other end, making 36 saves for the Wolves.
San Jose Sharks first-rounder Quentin Musty, who recorded five points in his lone regular-season appearance against Kingston, took warmups but was unable to play.
The series continues on Sunday afternoon at Slush Puppie Place, with puck drop set for 2 p.m.
