Grace on ice
Northern Selects split first two games of provincial final
PICTOU — The Northern Selects split the opening games of their best of 5 provincial championship series with the Halifax based Station Six Fire.
The Selects outshot their opponents in the opening game of the series, but lacking the required playoff urgency, they came up short with a 3-0 loss on an empty net goal.
The Selects regrouped and came out flying in Game 2 on Sunday. Sara Stewart opened the scoring in the first on a breakaway pass from Landyn Pitts and Mairead MacPherson struck a short while later on the power play, off a feed from Jaylen Langille.
The Selects continued to press in the second and potted two more of the sticks of Pitts and Tori MacPherson. Stewart, Ava Gennoe, Allie Hood and Natalie MacKay recorded assists. The press continued in the third with MacKay putting the finishing touch on a 5-0 victory with a late goal with helpers from Tori MacPherson and Pitts. Halle Faulkner was excellent in goal with the shutout. The Selects travel to Halifax on Friday and Saturday with Games 3 and 4 going at the BMO Centre at 8 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively. Game 5, if necessary, will be back at the Pictou County Wellness Centre on Sunday at 4 p.m
Major Midgets tame Mustangs, take series lead
WESTVILLE ROAD — The Pictou County Weeks Major Midgets are a win away from playing for a provincial title. On March 8, Weeks beat the Shore Shore Mustangs 10-4 in the fourth game of their Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League playoff series against the South Shore Mustangs at the Pictou County Wellness Centre (PCWC), to grab a commanding 3-1 lead. Kiefer Avery had three goals and an assist for the winners, Cale MacLaughlin and Blake Kontuk each had a pair as Weeks held a 3-2 lead in the second period before scoring four more – unanswered – in the rest of the period. Single markers came from Ryan Green, Lucas Canning and Thomas Schnare.
The previous night at the PCWC, Ryan Green potted the overtime winner for Pictou County, Bryson Currie and Matthew Hunter also scored for the locals, and Oliver Arnfast made 25 saves in goal. Game 5 in the series is next Friday in Lunenburg County, as Weeks can earn a spot in the league championship series with a victory.
A sixth game, if necessary, would be played the following day at the PCWC (4 p.m.).
Baseball umpiring clinic slated for April 25
WESTVILLE — A level 1 and 2 baseball Nova Scotia umpires clinic will take place April 25 at the Westville town hall gymnasium. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. with the clinic starting at 9 p.m. until approx9inately 4 p.m. Registration fee of $70 for level 1 and 2 and includes membership fees, clinic fees, and all clinic materials. Registration fee for level 3 is $100.00
All new umpires or current level 1 or 2 umpires who intend to umpire in the Pictou County region must be in attendance. if you are a returning umpire, bring your rulebook, wear sneakers and loose-fitting clothing. If you have a ball glove and mask, bring it along as well. Pre-registration is expected and can be completed at this link: http://baseballnovascotia. com/index.php?src=forms&re f=BNSUD+Certification+Clin ics&id=BNSUD+Certification +Clinics
Any questions or to pre-register, please contact Joel Rodgers by email at: joel.rodgers@ sobeys.com, or by phone: 7526575 (Home after 6 p.m.) or 752-8371 ext. 8027 (work). All clinics are capped at 50 participants. E-transfer payments are accepted at time of preregistration.