Wheeling, W.V. – On Friday night, the Manchester Monarchs met the Wheeling Nailers for the first time this season. It was a meeting the Monarchs would soon like to forget.
Wheeling dispatched the Monarchs, 7-4, on the back of a Riley Bourbonnais hat trick.
Bourbonnais scored a goal and an assist during Wheeling’s four-goal second period that put the game out of reach and sent Manchester netminder Charles Williams requiring relief for the second time this season.
Chris Francis also scored two goals for the Nailers, with Dylan Zink and Nick Sorkin also contributing goals for Wheeling.
Manchester’s scores came from Keegan Iverson early in the first period, as well as a brief comeback stretching from the late second period into the third period that saw Matt Schmalz, Michael Doherty and Matt Buckles find the back of the net.
In a small silver lining for the Monarchs, Justin Agosta recorded three assists, his first multi-point outing in 27 appearances so far this year.
Manchester heads to Ohio on Saturday for a 7:15 p.m. puck drop against the Toledo Walleye before beginning a six-game homestand next weekend.