No one has to tell any hockey coach, general manager, front office official or fans watching that goaltending is a critical component toward any championship. While many folks will say, two games is far too early to be thinking extra big, sensational goaltending to begin a new season is always more than welcome. The East Hants Bitar’s Ristorande’ Penguins have Fintan Boudreau to thank in a big way as he has recorded two shut-outs in first two games of the season including Friday night’s 4-0 win over the Sackville Blazers in Lantz as he turned away everyone of the 42 shots directed at him. Special teams worked exceptional for the Penguins as they scored three power-play goals. The teams played a scoreless first period, Jack Field with the game winner 1:54 into the second and then three consecutive goals with the Blazers playing short-handed from Noah Comeau, Jacob Reigate and Hayden Tamm made the final 4-0. Comeau also recorded a pair of assists as did Ryan Langlois and Logan Durno. Connor Blackwood turned away 44 of the 48 shots East Hants directed his way.
Jr. Eagles 4 Port Hawkesbury 1
The Jr. Eagles were caught using an illegal player in their opening season win over the Jr. Miners and therefore had to wait a week later to defeat the Port Hawkesbury Strait Pirates 4-1 on opposition ice to record their first win of the season. The Strait’s Cadyn Power put the home team ahead 1-0 before the first period was six minutes old but a power-play marker from the Jr. Eagles Jacob Wolodka tied the game at 1-1 before the first period concluded. The Jr. Eagles like the Penguins against the Blazers struck for two more man advantage goals in the second period from Noah MacKinnon and Pierce Hutchings gave Eskasoni a 3-1 lead after forty minutes. MacKinnon also recorded a pair of assists. Wolodka then sent one into an empty Strait net late in the third to make the final 4-1 Jr. Eagles. The Strait did outshoot Eskasoni 31-29 but Andrew Burke in the Eagles net and Owen Westevelt played sharply for their teams.
Capstone Colts 4 Valley Maple Leafs 2
Leafs Head Coach Jamie Leighton saw his team play two aggressive exhibition games going 1-1 but he, the players and local hockey fans are hopeful last season’s troubles will not come back to haunt them. In the 23-24 season, the Maple Leafs were notorious for their one -goal leads eventually ending in losses the majority of the time, even more importantly the Leafs were not able to score critical goals late in the game to expand their lead or tie a game up. Friday at C.F.B. Shearwater, the Leafs and Colts were deadlocked at 2-2 after forty minutes but two goals, the first from the Colts Kai Tobin and the second one into an empty net by sharp shooter Liam Andrews was all the Colts required for a 4-2 win. The Maple Leafs jumped in front twice by margins of 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to goals from Owen McDermid in the first and Wilson Davison in the second. Both players also recorded an assist on their teammate’s respective goals. Both times, the Leafs could not hang onto the lead as Ryan Wrlch tied at it at 1-1 after twenty minutes for the Colts and Jack Dulong with 1:27 to play in the middle frame to knot the game at 2-2. Riley Henman recorded a pair of assists for the Colts. Jaden Croft stopped 42 of 45 shots for the Leafs and Conar Brace 21 of 23 shots for the Colts.
GrayJay Sports