GrayJay Sports
League News
Eskasoni now tied with Jr. Bulldogs for 1st
The Membertou Jr. Miners lost their 11th game of the season in Eskasoni Sunday evening by a count of 4-3 and now have a 7-11-0 record after eighteen games in their 30 game regular season which wraps up in late February. The loss for the perennial contending Jr. Miners for a number of seasons leaves them five points out of a playoff position as they trail both the Pictou County Scotians and Port Hawkesbury Strait Pirates by 5 points in the race for the fourth and final playoff spot.
The win for the vastly improved Jr. Eagles was their 11th in 15 games and moved them back into a tie for first place in the Sid Rowe Division with defending provincial champions the Antigonish Jr. Bulldogs who are also at 11-3-1 for 23 points.
In Sunday’s game, Sonny Kabatay scored three times giving him 20 on the season in 14 games while also collecting an assist giving him 25 assists in 14 games for first place in the league scoring race with 45 points. Dante Basque scored once and added two assists giving him 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points. In fact Eskasoni players hold 4 of the the top 5 positions in the race for the League Scoring title.
For the Jr. Miners on Sunday, it was Brady Doucette, Connor McIntyre and Alexander Chenhall. Basque’s goal proved to be the game winner with 11:07 remaining in regulation. The Jr. Eagles held period leads of 2-1 and 3-2 and outshot the Jr. Miners 46-36.
Last night’s game was the final NSJHL League Game until the traditional home and home series is played Christmas Week between Membertou and Eskasoni. The Jr. Miners host the Jr. Eagles Wednesday Dec 28 at 7:30 and then the two teams play again Friday Dec 30 at 7:30 in Eskasoni at the Dan K. Stevens Memorial Arena. A pair of wins for the Jr. Miners would pull them within a single point in the playoff race prior to the League resuming it’s full schedule Friday Jan 6/23. A couple of wins for the Jr. Eagles would bump them 4 points ahead of Antigonish with the Bulldogs holding two games in hand.
Eskasoni and Membertou have played three of their 6 regular season games to date this season with Eskasoni having outscored the Jr. Miners 13-12 by winning 6-4 and 4-3 but also losing 5-3, so as you can see it will be two great hockey games for fans to enjoy Christmas Week in Cape Breton.
Regular season action resumes for the remainder of the League as mentioned on Friday, Jan 6/23 with Sackville in East Hants, Antigonish visiting Cumberland and Eskasoni playing in Port Hawkesbury.