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Bulldogs claim 4th consecutive DoJo Championship
The Antigonish Jr. Bulldogs were denied their fourth consecutive Nova Scotia Junior Championship by the Capstone Colts eight days ago. However, due to Newfoundland not playing in the 2025 Don Johnson Memorial Cup in Cocagne, New Brunswick, the runner-up Bulldogs became the fifth entry in the 2025 Tournament and after a rough 2-2-0 round-robin week of games, the Bulldogs struck when it mattered most and won the 2025 Don Johnson Memorial Cup and the Maritime Junior Hockey Championship for a fourth consecutive year Sunday afternoon in Cocagne.
It certainly was not an easy game as the Cap Pele Knights played the Bulldogs hard before Antigonish squeaked out a 3-2 win to take their fourth consecutive championship back to Antigonish. Will McKinnon opened the game’s scoring for the Bulldogs only 9 seconds after the opening face-off of Sunday’s Championship Finale. The Bulldogs took their 1-0 lead into the second period when Cap Pele tied the game at 1-1 before Tully Grant put the Bulldogs back in front.
In the third period, the Bulldogs Cameron Bell scored the Championship series winner with 6:10 having elapsed in the third. It was needed as Cape Pele responded 48 seconds late to move them to within a goal of a tie game. However that was all the scoring in the game as Antigonish outshot the Knights 36-22 to capture their fourth consecutive Maritime/Atlantic Junior Hockey Championship.
In a hard fought semi-final game with the Capstone Colts Saturday evening, the Bulldogs squeaked out a 2-1 win over the Capstone Colts to earn a berth in Sunday’s championship finale. Venel Campbell scored 18 seconds into the game and it was the only goal the Bulldogs would score until Campbell Barrett tallied in the third. Cooper Puma tied the game for the Colts at 1-1 in the second period.
Tournament Awards were handed out following the conclusion of Sunday’s game with Nicholas Lorette of the Bulldogs and Finn Merritt of the Colts being tied for top scorers in the tournament with each player collecting 7 points. Merritt was named Tournament MVP no doubt for his flawless effort in being able to score as he connected for five tournament goals. The Most Sportsmanlike Player was Venel Campbell of the Bulldogs. Tournament All-Stars from Nova Scotia were Merrit and Liam Andrews of the Colts and Loretta of the Bulldogs.
Congratulations to both the Jr. Bulldogs and the Capstone Colts for terrific 24-25 seasons. The Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League now turns it’s attention to their Annual General Meeting coming up in early June in Pictou.