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League News
Classic in Sackville
It was a sensational game beyond belief in Sackville Monday night as Daniel Surette’s goal in a shoot-out provided the Blazers with a difficult and hard-fought 1-0 win over the Brookfield Elks. Ben Etsell and Pablo De Larrinaga were complete all-stars in nets as Etsell blocked all 42 shots he faced in 65 minutes and likewise for Larrinaga who turned away 55 Blazer opportunities including 23 in the third period when the Blazers outshot the Elks 23-9. The first two periods were even in shots as the teams took 13 apiece in the first period and 15 apiece in the second before the Blazers began to dominate the third period.
At the beginning of the game, it appeared both teams were going to try and play wide-open but aggressive forechecking by both clubs prevented that. The first good scoring opportunity came from Brookfield when Sam Roger lifted the puck off the Blazers Tyler Pottier at the Elks blue line and broke in alone only to be denied by Etsell. The Blazers roared back when Duggan Gauthier and Will Meek missed a good chance.
In the second, Etsell made a nice pad save as Tyler Price broke in alone for the Elks. This was followed by Ben Fraser and Sam Rogers missing for the Elks on a close 2 on 1. Bryson Currie then had 2 monumental chances for the Blazers including one where he hit the goal post but the scored remained 0-0. Ben Fraser was robbed with aa terrific glove save as he broke in between two Blazers defensemen. Tyler Boyd also missed another great opportunity for the Elks in close. Before the second period ended, Bryson Currie of the Blazers was alone 10 feet in front of the Elks net but missed a great chance to put Sackville up 1-0.
In the opening two minutes of third, the Blazers missed two glorious scoring opportunities with the puck actually beating De Larrinaga but sliding directly across the crease. Ben Fraser and Noah Harrison both then missed great chances for the Elks as the play went back and forth early in third until Sackville began dominating the final 13 minutes of third. Currie who played a phenomenal game was robbed blind by De Larrinaga with a great glove save. Jaden Hardie was also stymied by the Elks net minder with a great blocker save.
In the five minute overtime, Ryan MacDonald was robbed after the Elks had given the puck up and then Cole Sellers with a perfect pass across to Daniel Surette for the Blazers missed again. Before the overtime ran out, Bryson Currie of the Blazers and Ethan Price of the Elks were stoned again to keep the score 0-0 after five minutes of sudden-death overtime.
In the shoot-out, the Blazers Jaden Hardie was the first shooter and he deked De Larrinaga and the Elks goalie went to his right, Haden deposited a shot into the top left hand corner. Ben Fraser then missed the net on the Elks first chance and De Larrinaga stopped the Blazers Degen Noble with a nice pad save for Surette won it for the Blazers 1-0. The 10-10-3 Elks are now 3 points out of a playoff position but will spring back into action against Liverpool Saturday afternoon at home in a 4:00 p.m. start. Sackville meantime now stands at 12-13-2 with only three games left on their regular season schedule. The Blazers next game will be Saturday afternoon in Sackville against the 17-4-1 East Hants Penguins at 3:00 p.m.