League News
bulldogs and Penguins record shut-outs
When the Valley Maple Leafs can somehow find one or two true goal scorers, they will find themselves competing even more and likely winning more games. The most recent example of no true goal scorer came in Windsor Friday night when the defending Atlantic Junior Hockey Champions, the Antigonish Bulldogs blanked the Leafs 3-0. Adam Tkacz recorded his first shut-out of the season for the Bulldogs who are now 4-0-0 to open the 23-24 season. At the other end Jaden Croft was strong as well stopping 50 of 53 shots he faced. With slightly more than two minutes to play in the opening period Friday, Will Fitzsimmons put Antigonish up 1-0 with a hard wrist-shot as she skated down the right side of Croft. Antigonish also went in 2 on 1 with 30 seconds to play in the first but neither player could maintain proper control of the puck and the period ended 1-0. Bulldogs outshot the Leafs 14-13 in the opening period after leading in shots at one point 10-4. The score remained 1-0 Bulldogs until 3:18 had elapsed in the third period. Evan Baxter who played a strong game for the Leafs made an exceptional play in the second period when he poke-checked the puck off of An Antigonish forward as he streaked in alone on Tkacz. Baxter also delivered a solid body-check to a Bulldogs parked in front of the Leafs net. Antigonish outshot the Leafs 18-11 in the second period. With 3:18 gone in the third, Daniel Chaisson parked about 12 feet in front of Croft deflected a shot which put the Bulldogs up 2-0. Slightly more than three minutes later Owen Forsythe scored the final goal of the game as he connected on a shot directly in front of the net after a beautiful pass from just over the icing line deep in Leafs territory. Iain Goodwin had an excellent chance for the Leafs in front of the Bulldogs net but Tkacz made a blocker save to keep the Leafs off the scoreboard. The Leafs had their best chance to get back into the game mid-way through the third period when the Bulldogs took a pair of minor penalties on the same whistle. However the Leafs power-play could not get in sync and literally did nothing until the Bulldogs were back at fill strength. The Leafs went on the power-play again with 5:38 to play but could do nothing while allowing a Bulldogs to ring one off the post with just over two minutes to play.