Junior Miners, Scotians series opens Saturday in Membertou
The Kameron Junior Miners will battle the Pictou County Scotians for the Sid Rowe Division championship starting this weekend.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series goes Saturday at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre, a 7:30 p.m. start. Game 2 will be played in Trenton on Sunday.
The Junior Miners finished the regular season with the best record in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League at 21-7-1-0 for 70 points.
In the opening round of the playoffs, the Junior Miners swept the Strait Pirates in four games. They outscored their cross-island rivals 24-7 in the series.
Despite playing in only four playoff games, Jordan Moss is tied for the league lead this post-season with nine points (five goals, four assists). Kelly Yates is close behind with four goals and four assists.
Nick Walsh has continued his strong play from the regular season. The league’s top goaltender three years running has a 3-0 record to go along with a microscopic 0.67 goals-against average and a .975 save percentage.
The Scotians reached the division final by besting the Antigonish Bulldogs in six games. They finished third in the division with a 10-18-2-1 record.
Rookie Jacob Pentz (three goals, six assists) is tied with Moss for the points lead. Riley Cameron (five goals, three assists) and Brendon Duff (three goals, five assists) have also been offensive threats.
In goal, Brandon MacDonald has been a workhorse for the Scotians, posting a 4-2 record, a 1.96 GAA and a .932 save percentage.
The Sid Rowe Division champion will play the winner of the Fred Fox Division championship series between the Valley Maple Leafs and the Liverpool Privateers. That best-of-seven series opens tonight at the Hants County Arena.
The NSJHL champion moves on to the Don Johnson Memorial Cup Atlantic junior ‘B’ championship in Fredericton, April 25-30.