SHLETON, Conn. - The Tri-Town Timberwolves U12 opened play in the Tier III national regional tournament with a 6-1 victory over New Hampshire’s Lakes Region 6-1.

Drew Rose led the winners with a hat trick.

He opened the game’s scoring with just 31 seconds remaining in the first period with Trent Dow drawing an assist. Rose scored again 21 seconds into the second period with Dow again drawing an assist. He completed the natural hat trick unassisted at the 5:42 mark of the second period. Will Arquiett made it a 4-0 lead 31 seconds later with an unassisted goal 8:47 mark.

The New Hampshire team broke netminder Rico DiMatteo’s shutout bid with a goal by Hunter Dupuis with 1:03 remaining in the second period.

Tri-Town’s Colby Jenkinson and Kaleb Rathbun sealed the victory with third period goals for the Timberwolves. Payton Felix and Noah Adams. were credited with assists on the Jenkinson goal.

The Timberwolves return to the ice Saturday to take on the NRI Vikings of Rhode Island at 12:30 p.m. before closing out the preliminary round at 7:30 p.m. Saturdayagainst the Belmont Marauders of Massachusetts.

The other four-team division consists of teams from Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and another from Massachusetts. The top two teams from each division advance to the Sunday morning semi-finals at 9 a.m. The national Tier III Championship Game is slated to face-off at 3 p.m.

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