Getting closer
Wildcats back in the playoff hunt with shut-out victory against league leaders
The Valley junior A Wildcats got a little help from their last weekend in Berwick as they build towards their future.
Former Wildcat Drake Batherson dropped the puck before the club’s game against the Edmundston Blizzard Jan. 7 in front of a huge crowd at the Kings Mutual Century Centre. While much of the attention focused on Batherson and his Team Canada gold medal from the recent World Juniors in Buffalo, NY, fans got to see the Wildcats shut out the top team in the Maritime Hockey League 3–0.
Brock Mcleod scored a goal and an assist, while Drew Packman had three points, including two goals, one on the power play and one into an empty net to ice the game. Goaltender Cole Mclaren stopped all 43 shots he faced.
“You couldn’t have scripted it better,” says Wildcats general manager Nick Greenough. “It was a big night for our organization and for the whole Valley. It’s not every day you have a world champion who’s from here, so it was great to see everyone come out to support Drake.”
Official paid attendance was 737, but the actual number of people inside the Apple Dome was even higher for the afternoon game. Before the first intermission, Batherson set up for autographs and photos with fans, and the line to see him quickly stretched from the scoreboard at one end of the ice to the canteen at the other end ... a line that didn’t dissipate until after the game was over.
Greenough says it was important that the larger than normal crowd was treated to an exciting game and a Wildcat win.
“Hopefully they’ve seen the calibre of play here, and will come out and watch us again. It was only two years ago that Drake was here playing for this team,” he pointed out.
The big win followed a 6–3 loss in Yarmouth against the division leading Mariners on Jan. 5. Mark Kennedy and Packman each had a power play goal and an assist in the loss, while Tarek Paranica added the third Valley goal and captain Makail Parker had two assists. Mclaren made 35 saves in the loss.
Valley’s home game against Yarmouth on Jan. 6 was postponed due to poor weather and will be made up at a later date, yet to be announced.
Eyeing playoff spot
The Wildcats are now 5–2
in the last seven games, and have climbed into the heart of a crowded playoff picture. The Truro Bearcats currently hold the final Eastlink South division playoff spot with 29 points. Valley now has 26, while the Pictou County Weeks Crushers have 25. Greenough says it’s fun to be back in the playoff hunt, and despite a
slow start to the season, he believes the team can sneak in the post season’s back door.
“We’re playing playoff games from here on out. Early in the season, I think a lot of people took us for granted. We were seeing a lot of back up goalies, and teams thought it would be a cakewalk, but we’re getting more respect now. Our players and coaches have all stepped up to the challenge. We’re getting great leadership from our 20-year-olds, who work hard on and off the ice. Guys are getting better, and hopefully the results keep coming our way.”
Greenough has been working to fill the final few holes ahead of the trade deadline on Jan. 10, including adding a second goalie. Nineteen-year-old Graham Dynes from Aurora, Ontario joins the Wildcats from the Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Junior A League.
Dynes had been released by the Voodoos, allowing Valley to sign him as a free agent. Greenough says Wildcats goaltending coach Charles Grant liked what he saw from Dynes, and the goalie is ready to support Mclaren in net.
Other than the goalie signing, Greenough says he’s not expecting to make a lot of trade deadline moves.
“We’re happy with our team from the net out right now, but we do have a few irons in the fire.”