Wild drops semifinal game
Pride eliminated in shootout at East Coast Ice Jam tournament
The Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild run at the 2018 Chronicle Herald East Coast Ice Jam hockey tournament ended on Sunday morning.
The Halifax McDonalds blew open a close game with five unanswered goals in the final 16:31 of the third period en route to a 6-1 semifinal win over the Wild in the Major Midget Division. Kensington completed the fiveday tournament with an overall record of 3-3 (won-lost). After going 1-2 in the round robin and qualifying for the 16team playoff round as the 14th seed, the Wild won two playoff games on Saturday to advance to the semifinals.
The Wild pulled out a 3-2 overtime win over the Fredericton Caps in the Round of 16 to advance to the quarter-finals, where they blanked the Saint John Vitos 4-0.
The Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride, who entered the quarter-finals undefeated at 4-0 (won-lost), lost a heart-breaking 1-0 decision to the Northern Moose in a shootout. Earlier Saturday, the Pride won 5-2 over the South Shore Mustangs in the Round of 16.
In the Major Bantam Division, the Central Attack and Eastern Express both dropped 4-3 decisions in the Round of 16. The Central IcePak defeated the Attack in overtime, and the Western Hurricanes came out on top against the Express.
McDonalds 6 Wild 1
Evan Gallant’s goal in the first minute of the third period lifted the Wild into a 1-1 tie, but Halifax answered back with three goals in just over three minutes to regain control of the game. Halifax added two more goals in the final seven-plus minutes. Chandler Wood and Zac Arsenault assisted on Gallant’s goal while Caleb Coyle was between
the pipes for Kensington.
Wild 4 Vitos 0
Coyle earned the shutout while recording his second win of the day as he improved to 3-0 in this year’s Ice Jam while allowing just three goals in three games.
Offensively, Marc Richard (11), Dixon MacLeod (1-1), Frank Fortin and Ryan Richards lit the lamp. Colby MacArthur added two assists.
The Wild built period leads of 1-0 and 2-0.
Wild 3 Caps 2 (OT)
Gallant scored two clutch goals to lift the Wild to a comefrom-behind win. Gallant tied the game with 4:08 left in the third, and was then set up by Clark Webster for the overtime winner. Arsenault added two assists.
The first period was scoreless, and the teams were tied 1-1 after the second.
Coyle earned the goaltending win, and also contributed an assist.
Pride 5 Mustangs 2
Kennedy Gallant had a goal and two assists to lead the Pride. Connor McGregor (1-1), Dylan Matthews, Cole Larkin and Sam MacNeill also scored for Charlottetown, which led 2-1 after the first and second periods.
Erik MacInnis earned the goaltending win.
Moose 1 Pride 0 (SO)
Both goaltenders – Isaak Pelletier of the Moose and the Pride’s MacInnis – were outstanding and delivered numerous clutch saves.
IcePak 4 Attack 3 (OT)
Jacob Squires scored once and assisted on two others to pace the Attack offence. Reid Vos and Josh Lund also scored while Tyler Worth earned two assists.
The Attack led 2-1 after the first and second period. AJ Cooper tended goal for the Attack.
The Attack’s tournament record was one win, one loss, one tie and one overtime loss.
Hurricanes 4 Express 3
Gabe Hartlen (2) and Alex Dixon found the back of the net for the Express. Avery Brown and Jack Campbell each registered three assists.
The Hurricanes led 2-1 after the first period, and the teams were tied 2-2 after the second. Caleb Drake was between the pipes for the Express.
The Express finished with two wins, one loss and one tie.