(Walpole, MA) -- Both Walpole Express teams did a little tidying up this weekend, sweeping their competition on the road. The Jr. A team beat the Laconia Leafs 2-1 on Saturday and 8-1 on Sunday, while the B team topped rival Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday 3-1 and 5-3 on Sunday.

Despite the wins, the A team got an earful from Head Coach Mark Kumpel after Saturday night’s game. “Our play on Saturday was just OK and fortunately we were able to squeak out the win despite our lack of commitment for all three periods,” Kumpel said. “After the game, we discussed the team’s sub par performance and on Sunday all of our players responded with a solid effort. They were rewarded with a well-earned win.”

The B team fared only slightly better in the motivation department. “On Sunday, when we were up by just a goal the team decided to stop skating,” said Jr. B Head Coach Tony Dalessio. “We got lazy and undisciplined and I let the boys know how I felt between periods. They showed great improvement in the second and third.”

Jr. A Wrap-Up
The Express controlled play from the start of the game and peppered Laconia’s goalie, Justin Farrell, with 37 shots. Unfortunately, the Express could only manage to get two in the net. Adam Korol got the scoring going with a power play goal just over five minutes into the second period as Lou Malvasi and Matt Wedge assisted. The lead was short-lived, though, as Laconia tied the score before the second period ended. In the third, the Express carried the play in the Laconia zone and Austin Grosvner finally netted the game winner with about four minutes to play. Korol and Charles LaChance assisted. Goalie Travis Owens made 15 saves for the win.

After a motivational talk on Sunday, the Express came out flying against Laconia. Realizing they had an opportunity to show Kumpel their mettle, the Express jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after the first period on a goal by Matt Harrington, with an assist from Cody Armstrong. The Express extended the lead to 5-0 in the second as Steve Charest, Matt Venoit and LaChance all connected. In the third, the Express added three more as Harrington, LaChance and Dino Federico each found the back of the net. Goalie Rich Stine made 30 saves between the pipes.

“Coach gave it to us a little after Saturday night’s game because we didn’t play well and came out slow, something that stayed with us through most of the game,” Korol said. “We stepped it up on Sunday and again carried the play but with much more intensity. This time we finished our chances.”

“After losing in Hartford last weekend we needed those four points and I am proud of how the boys delivered on Sunday,” said Kumpel. “Next we face an improving Portland team on their small ice. Those will be two tough battles.”

Jr. B Wrap-Up
The sting of suffering their first loss in 17 games last weekend still fresh in players’ minds, the B team was back at in Hartford to take on a strong Jr. Wolf Pack team. The Express struck first on a tip in by Georgiy Gurianov off a Joobin Mozaffarimehr shot. Hartford answered immediately on the power play to tie the score at one after the first period. In the second it would be all Express as Will Harrop slammed home a rebound on the power play and JJ Carroll tucked one home short side to give the Express a 3-1 lead, which is how things ended after a scoreless third period. Joe Gladnick made 23 saves for the win in net.

On Sunday, the Express found themselves down 3-1 after the first period even though they scored first just 49 seconds into the game as Gurianov found Jordan Fragoza back door. Then the Wolf Pack took over the period scoring three goals, two on the power play. After a pep talk from Dalessio between periods, the Express picked things up in the second with two power play goals. JP Kascsak pushed the score to 3-2 with a tap in off a Fragoza one-timer. A few minutes later it was Gurianov again with an impressive 40-foot wrister to the low stick side. Things would stay tied at three until about six minutes remaining in the game when Carroll stole a pass in the neutral zone and beat the Hartford goaltender with a short-side backhander for the eventual game winner. The Express added an empty-net goal for the 5-3 win.

“We were awful in the first period and Coach let us know it between periods,” said Carroll. “After that, we stepped it up and started creating more opportunities in the second, which lead to some power play chances that we capitalized on. We have a lot of ways to win this year but we need to learn to play a full 60 minutes – something we haven’t done a lot of.”

Upcoming Games
The A team will head to Saco, Maine this weekend to take on the Portland Jr. Pirates on Saturday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16, while the B team will host the Troy Eagles for two games at Iorio Arena in Walpole., Mass. The puck drops on Saturday’s game at 8:40 pm and on Sunday at 1 pm.