Peewee AA Crushers claim Mainland League title
The Pictou County Peewee AA Crushers claimed the Nova Scotia Mainland League Championship title over the weekend hosted by Acadia.
The tournament had a shaky start for the Crushers with two losses to Cumberland and Acadia. This set the road to a weekend of multiple games.
Facing elimination in each game, the Crushers were challenged with winning six games in a row in order to win the title. The Crushers came to play on Saturday, winning their three games against West Hants, Truro and league overall firstplace team Yarmouth. This set up for an exciting Sunday in Berwick.
The first game had an early start, with the Crushers winning against Western Valley. This win provided a rubber match with Cumberland, a back and forth game with the Crushers eventually winning in overtime.
The final game, and eighth game in three days, saw the Crushers face an undefeated South Shore team in the final game. The Crushers started early with a 2-0 lead after the first, and 3-0 lead after the second.
In the third period, the multiple games were starting to show on the Crushers squad. South Shore mounted a comeback and got on the board early. With a 3-1 lead the Crushers scored an insurance marker to make it 4-1.
Late in the third, South Shore scored two quick ones, but the Crushers held the lead until the final buzzer rang, a 4-3 win to claim the title.
Tournament MVP for the Crushers was Cameron MacKinnon.
“Winning the title sure makes the drive home a lot shorter,” coach Larry Turnbull said.
“I am proud of the determination and effort each and every player put forth this weekend.”
This win gives the Crushers a spot in the Hockey Nova Scotia Day of Champions, where they will take on the winner of the Central Minor League for the provincial title on the weekend of April 7-9.