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Colts huge win in East Hants

It was an unusual, surprising evening in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League Friday, Dec 6th with plenty of offence mixed in.  The following is a review of the four Friday games.

 
Capstone Colts   7       East Hants Penguins   2
 
Considering the last time these two clubs played, this game turned a few heads but the Capstone Colts don’t mind turning a few heads after scoring five unanswered goals to defeat the now 17-2-0 East Hants Penguins 7-2 in Lantz.  It was only back on Friday, Nov 15th when the Pens paved the Colts into the ice by a score of 10-3.  The three teams have now played three games this season with the Pens outscoring the Colts 17-14.  In Friday’s game, Jacob Reigate put the Penguins up 1-0 with 3:14 having elapsed after the opening face-off.  However a mere 43 seconds later Finn Merritt tied the game at 1-1 for the Colts.  Camden McKenzie then put the Colts up 2-1 before Devin Meagher the league’s number one goal scorer netted his 16th of the season to tie game at 2-2 after one period.  It proved to be the last time East Hants would be able to get a puck by  the Colts Conar Brace who stopped 37 of 39 shots.  In the second period, Merritt scored his second of the game for the Colts followed by another one from Trayner McCulloch 1:20 later and the Colts went to the dressing room leading 5-2 after forty minutes after another marker from Nik Xidos.  In the third, Xavier Coggins and Copper Puma both scored for the Colts to make the final 7-2.  Fintan Boudreau survived 43 minutes stopping 33 of 40 shots in the East Hants net before being replaced by Will Shields for the game’s final 17 minutes.  Shields stopped all 7 shots directed his way.  With the win, the Colts moved five points up on the Sackville Blazers to 12-6-0 for 24 points and second place in the Fred Fox Division.  The Colts and Blazers lay a huge game Monday night in Sackville beginning at 7:30 p.m.
 
 
South Shore   3         Valley Maple Leafs    0
 
Both teams entered the game tied for fourth place in the Fred Fox Division which is the last guaranteed playoff spot in the division.  The game did not feature plenty of fast-paced scoring opportunities but the Lumberjacks certainly took command of the chances they were given in a game that was called after forty minutes due to dangerous ice conditions.  As a result of the League’s constitution change made approximately three years ago because of a previous situation, the game has been declared a no contest.  The following is the league’s statment issued Monday Dec 9th:
 

  1. Date: December 9, 2024

    Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League Statement on Game Suspension

    The Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League (NSJHL) acknowledges the suspension of the game between South Shore and Valley on Friday, December 6, 2024, due to mechanical issues with the Zamboni that resulted in unsafe ice conditions.

    Following a review of the situation and the league by-laws, the game has been ruled a non-contest. Both teams have been presented with options on how to move forward and we will present them when the league is notified. 

    The NSJHL is committed to maintaining fairness and ensuring player safety across all games. We thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding as we address this matte

    The Lumberjacks were leading 3-0 after forty minutes when the officials took the ice for the third period and noticed gouges in the ice in numerous places stretching from one goalie crease to another with huge gouge at centre ice.  The League's constitution stated if playing condition became dangerous during the third period, the team leading would be awarded the two points but because it happened during an intermission, the game has been declared a no contest for the time being until teams explore other options presented to them.
     
    The Lumberjacks outshot the Leafs  17-9 in the first period and 18-10 in the second period for a two period total of 35-19.  The Lumberjacks were not foiled by the Leafs sensational goaltender Graydon Mole as he allowed three goals in an almost identical fashion.  John Shubaly who scored once and added two assists had Mole down and almost out when he deposited the puck into an empty net with less than five minutes to play in the first period and then Daniel Kline with 31 second to play in the opening period did likewise with Mole having no chance and the South Shore took a 2-0 lead after one.
     
    In the second period with 3:43 remaining, Kyle MacIntyre with a small deflection took a pass from outside the Leafs face-off circle and buried it past Mole as the Leafs net minder was caught again too far to one side.  Without knowing the players left the ice for the second period intermission not knowing they would be unable to play the final period.  The Lumberjacks remain at 7-9-0 while the Leafs are still to 7-10-0.
     
     
    Port Hawkesbury   3     Eskasoni   1
     
    The Jr. Eagles were plagued by penalty troubles being assessed 63 minutes compared to the Strait Pirates 12.  Even more frustrating was the fact that three Eagle players took 53 of the 63 minutes the team was assessed.  Liam Trenholm led the way for the Strait with a goal and a pair of assists while Cadyn Power and Blake MacDonnell scored the other two goals for the Strait who held period leads of 2-0 and 2-0 before Trenholm’s goal in the third and Arlen Denny’s for Eskasoni.  Leo MacLean also registered a pair of assists for the Pirates who outshot the Jr. Eagles 30-22.
     
     
    Antigonish   10      Membertou   1
     
    The Bulldogs showed no mercy on the Jr. Miners taking an 8-0 lead before giving up the Jr. Miners lone goal to Tyler Seymour.  To add insult to the Jr. Miners misery, the Bulldogs then scored two empty net goals in the game’s final 1:19.
    Antigonish received a pair of goals from Owen Juurlink, Venel Campbell and Brody MacPherson with single markers registered by Will Normandeau, Cohen Pictou, Will MacKinnon and Owen Forsythe.  Juurlink, Forsythe and Normandeau also added two assists with Campbell and MacPherson each picking up a helper.  The win for the Bulldogs was their 17th in 20 games this season.
Dec 8, 2024