South Burlington — The Spaulding High Crimson Tide and the Essex Hornets both put up shutout wins in a hockey doubleheader on Wednesday night inside Cairns Arena.

In the first game Spaulding broke open a close game with four goals in the third period and topped the slumping South Burlington Rebels 5-0. Spaulding scored 50 seconds into the first period when Logan Copeland put away a centering pass from Denver Heath for a 1-0 advantage, and that was where the score would remain through two periods of play. The Tide outshot SB through two 18-9, but Rebel goaltender Travis Gay held the home team in it with 17 saves.

But Spaulding broke through in the third, scoring four times, Ryan Allen at 35 seconds, Tyler Murray at 1:59, Bobby Austin at 7:15 and Collin Gillander at 13:54. That was more than enough for Spaulding netminder Justin LaPerle who made 17 saves to earn the shutout win. Gay stopped 26 shots for the Rebels who dropped their fourth straight, while being shutout for the fourth straight game.

With the win Spaulding improves to 6-8. South Burlington is now 5-5-2.

In game two Essex rode a second period goal from Alex Guimmo and a great third period between the pipes from Erik Short to a 1-0 win over the CVU Redhawks. Guimmo’s goal at 8:28 of the second period was the only one scored in the game. In two meetings this season the Hornets and the Redhawks have played 95 minutes of hockey and that is the only goal scored between the two teams. That being said, CVU pushed hard for the tying goal, outshooting Essex 10-0 in the third period. But Short came up big, finishing with 20 saves for the win. Freshman goalie Blaine Moore made 16 stops, all in the first two periods for the Redhawks.

With the win Essex improves to 9-3-1 on the season. CVU, which has scored only four goals total in their last seven games, slips to 5-4-5.