Action at Atlantic junior ‘B’ hockey championship.
Host team edges Moncton Vito’s 4-3 to remain unbeaten at Don Johnson Memorial Cup
A late-game snipe by Dylan Morley lifted the Kameron Junior Miners to a 4-3 win over the Moncton Vito’s at the 2018 Don Johnson Memorial Cup Atlantic junior ‘B’ hockey championship Wednesday.
Morley rifled a shot off the draw through a screen for the winner with 3:58 remaining in the game in front of about 900 fans at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre. Moncton pulled goaltender Zachary Robichaud with just over a minute remaining but couldn’t score the equalizer.
The Junior Miners got off to a fast start in the opening period. Kelly Yates got the ball rolling after his shot from the point was redirected by a Moncton player past Robichaud. Yates then drew the assist on a Mitchell Johnston goal as he completed a nice passing play.
After a Moncton time out, the New Brunswick champions responded. Alexandre Gallant and Philippe Alexis Vachon sent the teams to the dressing room deadlocked at 2-2.
“We started out pretty hot there and after New Brunswick took their timeout, they kind of bounced back and had us on the run for a little bit,” said Yates, who was named his team’s player of the game. “But Levi (Denny) was able to make some big saves and our penalty kill, that’s been the story all playoffs. Those guys were unreal.”
In the second, Pascal Dupuis gave the Vito’s the lead on a power-play marker, but Jacob Keagan pulled the Junior Miners even yet again with 1:34 to go in the frame. The goal set the stage for Morley in the third, who netted a similar goal in Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime win over the East Hants Penguins.
Denny stopped 27 shots in the win, while Robichaud made 24 saves in the loss.
The Junior Miners (2-0) continue play against the Mount Pearl Blades of Newfoundland and Labrador (1-0) tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Western 8, East Hants 6
Chasse Gallant and Connor Morrissey scored twice and added an assist apiece for the Red Wings, as the Prince Edward Island champions earned a win in their tournament opener.
Jason Gallant also scored and chipped in two assists, while Isaac Knox and Silas Handrahan scored and assisted. Curklan Fraser chipped in a single.
Luke Oliver made 23 saves for the win in goal.
For the Penguins (0-2), Jesse Hamer fired a hat trick, Quinn MacDonald and Matthew Perruzza
had a goal and two assists each, and Adam Perruzza had a goal and a helper. Mark Vokey added three assists.
Penguins netminder Brent
Walters took the loss after making 16 saves. He entered the game in the second period in relief of starter Ryan Huestis, who made 15 stops. Mount Pearl 5,
Moncton 4 (OT)
Grant Thompson struck in overtime for the Blades of Newfoundland and Labrador to win their opener, one of four goals he scored in the game. Thompson chipped in an assist as well in the triumph.
Stephen Predham also struck for Mount Pearl, while Michael Broders added three helpers to the cause.
For Moncton (0-2), Dupuis and Vachon had a goal and an assist each. Samuel Savoie and Gallant also found the back of the net.
In goal, Brandon Short turned aside 23 shots in the victory, while Julien Landry made 29 saves in a losing cause.
Tournament play continues today and wraps up with the championship Sunday at 2 p.m.