AAA Bantam Storm win P.E.I. Cup
As many are hanging up their skates some are starting the spring hockey season.
The Atlantic Hockey Group has a number of teams based out of the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
The AAA Bantam Storm competed in the P.E.I. Cup this past weekend, taking home the gold medal. In the opening game, the Frederiction Hounds held the Storm off the board until 1:32 remained in the third, when Blake Kontuk set up Connor MacLeod for the only goal of the game. Braydon Leblanc made several key saves to get the shutout win. Game 2 saw the Storm ice the Cape Breton Freeze 6-2, Kontuk scoring from Skyler Earle, his second of the game assisted by MacLeod and Iain Horton, Earle scoring from Maclean Tobin and Matt Carson, Dave Matthews from Carson, Landen MacDonald, assist to Matthews, and Sam Rogers from Thomas Schnare.
Tyler Matchem backstopped his team to the win.
In the Storm’s third game, Leblanc allowed only one goal in a 5-1 win over the Acadia Jr. Axemen. Scoring were Kontuk from MacLeod and Rogers, Joe Fagioli assisted by Colin MacGillivray, Kontuk assisted by Scott Long, Carson from Tobin and Sam Rogers, with assists to Kontuk and MacLeod.
In the fouth game, the Storm defeated the Western Hurricanes 2-1 with Matchem picking up the win. Scoring were Carson from Fagioli with the gamewinner coming from Landen MacDonald, assisted by Tobin. Against the Central Lightning, who finished second to the Storm in the round robin, the final was a battle of big versus the speedy Storm team. Speed won out, 8-4 as Leblanc earned his third win of the weekend in the final. Carson had three goals and three assists while linemate Kontuk netted a hat trick and assisted twice. Thomas Schnare and Jake Stewart also scored.
Back home to nurse some injuries there are two more tournaments coming up this spring in Moncton and Halifax that the Storm will compete in.