Junior Miners host Scotians for Game 5 tonight
Tied 2-2, it’s the old hockey cliché that Game 5 can be a make-or-break game in a bestof-seven series.
But it’s the case in the Sid Rowe Division championship between the Kameron Junior Miners and the Pictou County Scotians that’s all square heading into tonight’s Game 5 at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.
“Recently, we’ve been getting great crowds and the boys have been feeding off of that,” said Junior Miners head coach Ryan MacDougall. “It’s a big game, Game 5, but having it in our own barn really gives us an advantage.”
After sweeping the Strait Pirates in the opening round of the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League playoffs, the Junior Miners
found themselves down 2-0 to the Scotians after losses of 3-2 and 3-1. The Cape Breton team rebounded, however, winning Game 3 by a 4-2 final at home on Saturday and skating out of Trenton with a 4-1 victory on Sunday.
“Our compete effort wasn’t there the first two games for sure, just not winning battles,” said MacDougall. “Last week in practice, we worked on our compete level and the last two games, we really stepped it up and you can see it on the ice and see it in the results.”
Much like the regular season, the Junior Miners have seen a balanced attack these playoffs. Jordan Moss leads the team with six goals and four assists for 10 points in eight games. Kelly Yates (four goals, four assists), Brendon MacLean (three goals, five assists) and rookie Daniel Reid (two goals, six assists) follow with eight points apiece.
The team has been backstopped by Nick Walsh in goal, who sports a 1.57 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and a 4-2 record with one shutout these playoffs.
“I couldn’t even pinpoint one person, really. That’s what we need. We need all 12 guys going,” said MacDougall. “It’s been everyone. It can go from the fourth line to the first line. If the fourth line’s producing, you’re in good shape and if the first line is producing, you’re in good shape.”
The Scotians have countered with the likes of rookie Jacob Pentz, who leads these playoffs with 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 10 games. Brendon Duff and Riley Cameron are also playing at an over a point-pergame pace.
The winner of the series will play the Fred Fox Division champion in the league final. The Liverpool Privateers lead the defending champion Valley Maple Leafs 2-1 in their best-ofseven series.
The NSJHL champion advances to the 2017 Don Johnson Memorial Cup Atlantic junior ‘B’ championship in Fredericton, April 25-30.