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League News
Snow paralyzes NSJHL schedule
It is a weekend folks will remember for awhile as play in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League was paralyzed this weekend with the heavy snow impacting a large portion of Nova Scotia. Six of the Seven Games scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday did not get played. Five by weather conditions and another one between the South Shore and East Hants in Lantz on Friday night which did not go ahead but controversy resulted. The following is a League News Release issued as a result of this game not being played.
The league executive’s decision regarding South Shore’s decision not to play their scheduled game @ East Hants is as follows:
Given South Shore’s extremely late timing of their decision and notification not to play the game, it was then too late for the home team (East Hants Penguins) to act and cancel ice and the officials.
In addition, the lateness of South Shore’s announcement allowed all a ‘real-time’ assessment of travel conditions. At the time of South Shore’s advice of their decision, there was no evidence of any travel concerns for travel to the game nor any expectation the weather would deteriorate to the point by the end of the game that travel would be a player safety concern.
The league also notes that there was no consideration for not traveling and playing in the game with Valley visiting Shearwater, who would experience comparable weather/travel between Bridgewater to Lantz.
As a result, the game will be deemed a forfeit by South Shore and a fine of $3000.00.
The executive thank you for your cooperation and your understanding of the importance of transparency and consistency in upholding the league's rules and regulations.--
Gerard MacDonald (He/Him)NSJHL President
We are obviously disappointed by this decision for a number of reasons, least of which the inaccuracy over the weather/travel advisory statement.
We will be appealing.
Pictou and Port Hawkesbury were forced to ppd their game in the Strait Friday night and it has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 13.
The only game which was played Friday was the Valley Maple Leafs- Capstone Colts contest at the C.F.B. Shearwater Forum. The Colts left very little in question as they trounced the Leafs 9-4 taking period leads of 2-0 and 6-3. Trainer McCulloch connected for 3 goals while adding an assist for the Colts with Ben Fraser scoring twice. Other goal scorers for the Colts were Cody Garcin who also collected 3 assists, Xavier Coggins, Liam Andrews and Cooper Puma who also recorded a pair of assists. For the Leafs, Nick Goodwin scored once and added 2 assists while other goals were recorded by Ben McCarthy, Nicholas Vidito and Owen McDermid. The Colts outshot the Leafs 43-26.
On Saturday, the Lumberjacks had their home game with the Colts ppd as was the East Hants-Brookfield game in Brookfield. Eskasoni with Cape Breton literally being buried in snowfall and the Membertou Jr. Miners were forced to ppd a home and home series Saturday and Sunday. Port Hawkesbury and Antigonish also ppd their game scheduled for Antigonish Sunday evening.
If the weather does improve and hopefully it will, the League will swing back into action Monday night in Sackville as the Blazers plan to host the Valley Maple Leafs in a 7:30 start.