GrayJay Sports
League News
South Shore wins in final seconds
A shoot-out win that lasted until the 7th round and a last second win highlighted play in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League Wednesday evening. It also saw one team eliminated from the chase for a first place position. The following is a recap:
South Shore Lumberjacks 6 East Hants 4
The Lumberjacks Brandon Rideout’s goal with 48 seconds remaining in regulation eliminated the Penguins from having a chance of finishing or tying for first place in the Fred Fox Division as they fell 6-4. The Penguins fell to 21-8-1 and are now 6 points back of the Capstone Colts with only two games remaining in their schedule. The Lumberjacks meanwhile improved to 23-7-1 for 47 points with their final regular season game scheduled for Saturday night in Bridgewater against the Colts. The Penguins fell behind 2-1 and 4-2 after the opening two periods in Lantz Wednesday night butDavis Cooper’s goal with 4:50 to play for the Pens tied the game at 4-4 before Rideout’s goal. Jayson Hanson had earlier brought the Pens to within a goal. Daniel LeBlanc concluded the game’s scoring for the Lumberjacks with his empty-netter with only two seconds left in regulation. Other South Shore goals were scored by Tyler Thomas and Owen Osborne in the first and Nolan Greenlaw and Aidan Fisher in the second. The Pens Devin Meagher moved into a tie for the League Lead in goals as he scored his 22nd and 23rd markers of the season in the opening forty minutes. Noah Comeau of the Penguins also moved into a tie for the League Lead in Assists as he registered a pair and is now tied with the South Shore’s Aaron Lane with 26 apiece. The Lumberjacks outshot East Hants 45-42 and must now hope the Penguins can defeat the Colts Friday night in Shearwater. If the Penguins can do this, it will set up a showdown for first place Saturday evening. A win by the South Shore in regulation would mean the Lumberjacks would have a 2-1-1 record against the Colts who would end up 2-2-0 in their four games between each other in 23-24. Let's say the the Colts lose in overtime, if they do, they would secure first place because they would finish 2-0-2. If the Lumberjacks win in regulation, they would finish 2-1-1 and the Colts 2-2-0 meaning the Lumberjacks would clinch first place.
Sackville 4 Brookfield 3 (Shoot-Out Win)
The Sackville Blazers finally got past the Brookfield Elks 4-3 in a shoot-out win in Sackville Wednesday night. The shoot-out went 7 rounds with Calem McAndrew scoring on the Elks first shot before Justin Hardie scored on the Blazers 2nd shot of the shoot-out. The Elks then missed on their next six opportunities and the Blazers on their next four before Will Meek finally figured out Pablo De Larrinaga in the Elks net on the Blazers 6th attempt. Both De Larrinaga and Connor Blackwood in the Blazer nets faced 50 shots apiece until the shoot-out. Jaden Hardie put the Blazers up 1-0 after the opening period before Jayden Matheson tied it for the Elks at 1-1 after two periods. McClellan Cale just 1:08 into the third gave the Elks a 2-1 advantage but Adam Maillet tied it for the Blazers mid-way through the final period of regulation. Keegan Macumber kept his torrid scoring going for the Elks by giving them a 3-2 lead with 4:58 to play but 1:14 later with 3:44 left in regulation Lawson Cook tied it for the Blazers. Sackville is now anxiously awaiting to see who their first round playoff oppenent will be. It could be the Colts or Lumberjacks but that will not be known until late Saturday night.