PORT HARDY — Shelby Cockell scored back-to-back goals to snap a second-period tie and finished with a hat trick as the Port Hardy Warriors topped the crosstown Bulls 6-3 in North Island Commercial Hockey League play Friday at Don Cruickshank Memorial Arena.
The Bulls tied the contest 3-3 on a score by Barney Wilson at 10:19 of the second period.
Cockell followed with the game-winner at 12:40 and added an insurance score at the 15:11 mark to push the Warriors ahead 5-3.
Chris Ranger capped the scoring with the Warriors' final score with 1:58 remaining.
Cole Morton opened scoring for the winners in the opening minute of play, and the Warriors (3-3) made it 2-0 on a Quinn Mellow goal midway through the period.
The Bulls (2-5) finally reached the scoreboard and cut the lead to 2-1 on Brad Zealand's tally with 2:10 left in the first period.
The Bulls kept the momentum into the second and final period, tying it on Shawn Patterson's power-play goal less than three and a half minutes after puck drop.
But Cockell responded with the first of his three goals to put the Warriors back in front at 3-2 before Wilson knotted it less than a minute later.
Jason Saunders picked up the win in goal for the Warriors, who got assists from Jake Colbourne, Corey Swain, Jeff Cowles and Mellow.
Scott Williams picked up assists on all three Bulls goals, and Lucas Noel chipped in a helper.
Two games scheduled between the Port McNeill Ice Devils and the Neucel Islanders — Friday in Port Alice and Sunday in Port McNeill — were cancelled due to several Devils playing in tournaments out of the area.
All four league teams are slated to return to action tomorrow night, with the Warriors traveling to Port Alice to face the Islanders at 8 p.m. and the Bulls hosting the Devils in Port Hardy at 9:30 p.m.
B League
In Sunday's weekly B League game in Port Hardy, the Stars blasted the North Islanders 10-2.