Crushers enter playoffs
Crushers to face Amherst in first round of MHL playoffs
Team looking to make most of extra playing time.
WESTVILLE ROAD — The Junior A Crushers are back in the playoff party for the first time in three years.
Straight up ahead: a firstround playoff matchup with the Amherst Ramblers.
The series starts this coming Saturday at Amherst Stadium, with Game 2 to be held March 16 at the Pictou County Wellness Centre (PCWC).
“Playoff hockey is back in Pictou County,” said coach Willie MacDonald. “We’re absolutely excited to get started. Everyone seems to be in a good mindset, so we’re gonna put the chips on the table and see what happens.”
The Crushers clinched a playoff spot on March 5 with a win over the Truro Bearcats, and would finish third in the division after the regular season dust had settled, one point behind the second-place Ramblers.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve played a playoff game, but I know it’s going to be a faster pace,” said captain Jake Martin, a four-year Crusher who will get his first taste of junior playoff action (injury forced him to miss the 2017 post-season).
“We have a lot of guys in the room that have played lots of meaningful hockey, so I think that will help us.”
Amherst and Pictou County enter the playoffs playing good hockey and the two sides aren’t particularly fond of each other.
“We’ve had some chippy affairs,” said Amherst coach Doug Doull, who coached the Crushers for four seasons, including the league title they captured in 2016.
“(But) playoffs are for the players and you don’t want to put yourself above that. I’m really glad we made it in, I’m glad that we’re at the dance.”
One of the few Crushers with plenty of playoff experience is forward Craig Ryan, whose improvement over the second half of the season has been noticeable.
“A whole new season starts when the playoff comes. Keep things simple, work hard every shift and try to limit the mistakes.”
In addition to his physical play, Ryan scored three goals in the final four games of the regular season to help the Crushers get in.
“I play on the edge, and try not to go over it. It’s a fine line there,” said the 20-year-old native of Mulgrave N.S., whose bang and bash style has slowly won over Crusher fans.
All of the 20-year-olds are facing the end of the line, and don’t intend to go away quietly.
“For me, it’s my last kick at the can,” Ryan said, “and hopefully we can get a ring at the end of the year. That’s all that matters.”
NOTES:
▪ Game 4 of the series will be played at Hector Arena in Pictou. The PCWC will be unavailable due to the Pictou County Home Show being staged there.
▪ The teams split eight regular season games, with each club winning four times. Amherst outscored the Crushers 32-31 in those games.
▪ The last time the two teams met in the post-season was in 2017, after a regular season that saw Pictou County dominate the league, before Amherst upset them in the opening round of the playoffs with an overtime win in Game 7.
▪ Seven Crushers are taking their final playoff ride in junior hockey: Dallas Farrell, Keenan Gillis, Aiden Hickey, Sam LeBlanc, Craig Ryan, Spencer Smith and Logan Vande Meerakker will all graduate from junior after the playoffs.
▪ The Crushers are relatively healthy going into the series, but Amherst defenceman Bradley Dawe is out with a broken arm.
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
▪ March 14: Pictou County at Amherst
▪ March 16: Amherst at Pictou County
▪ March 18: Pictou County at Amherst
▪ March 20: Amherst at Pictou County (Hector Arena)
▪ March 21: Pictou County at Amherst *
▪ March 23: Amherst at Pictou County *
▪ March 25: Pictou County at Amherst * * If necessary
THE WEEK THAT WAS Crushers 6, Bearcats 1
On March 5, the Crushers clinched a playoff spot with a 6-1 win over the Bearcats.
In front of a large crowd at the Pictou County Wellness
Centre (an announced paid attendance of just over 1,000), Jaden Mason score two third period goals to put the game away, while also tallying for Pictou County were Jack Morris, Kevin Mason, Spencer Smith and Dallas Farrell.
Crushers 4, South Shore Lumberjacks 1
Pictou County clinched third place in their division with a win in South Shore. Evan Gallant, Craig Ryan, Spencer Smith and Colin Parker scored for the Crushers.
Yarmouth Mariners 4, Crushers 0
Former Weeks Major Midget forward Carson Lanceleve had two goals for the Mariners, who will play the Bearcats in the first round of the post-season.