Exciting comeback win uplifting for Elks
The Brookfield Elks scored with less than a minute to play in the third period to tie last Saturday afternoon’s Nova Scotia Hockey League game against Pictou at 4-4.
In overtime at the Sportsplex, Elks captain Caelan Blaikie demonstrated quite a piece of stickhandling, as he carried the puck from inside his own blueline to finally tuck it behind Pictou’s netminder Mathew Murray.
“Getting that 5-4 win was like something being lifted off our backs,” Liam Atwater, 17, an Elks rookie defenceman, said following the game.
“It was a big win, it was a big play by Caelan; he brings leadership to the team, he really knows how to capitalize around the net.”
Atwater, from Bible Hill, played for Jeff Hazelton’s CEC Cougars last season. During the 2017-18 season he was with Pictou County Scotians in junior B. He’s a product of the Truro & Area Minor Hockey Association.
“As a rookie Liam gets better every game,” Elks head coach Phil Lynds said. “Liam takes a lot of pride in his defensive game, he’s a strong shot-blocker and Liam possesses a very accurate shot from the point.”
Goaltender Danny Walsh, who also played a big part in the win, talked with Sports Scene.
“The win kind of gives us some momentum and confidence heading into the new year,” Walsh, 18, originally from Corner Brook, and now a
Bedford resident, said. “We have a great group of guys with the Elks, we’re a close group. This is actually one of the nicest groups of players I’ve played with, we all want to be more competitive in the new year.”
Walsh came to the Elks after being in training camp with the junior A Truro Bearcats. A first-year Saint Mary’s University business student, he played last season for Charles P Allen high school in Bedford. Walsh had previously played midget AAA in Newfoundland with Western Kings, while his early minor hockey was played in Corner Brook.
“We knew Danny was a highly skilled goaltender,” said Lynds. “But Danny has been downright incredible, around the league he is regarded as one of the best. Our coaching staff sees Danny as an exceptional young man.”
At age 16, Jacob Bolger is a promising six-foot-two, 180-pound rookie defenceman with the Elks.
“As a 16-year-old I’m younger than pretty well every player in the league,” Bolger, of Bible Hill, said. “I do find this hockey a lot faster than minor midget but I’m having a lot of fun. After a slow start to our season it was certainly good to win our last game before going into the Christmas break.
Bolger played last season with Fundy Thunder in AAA minor midget. He played his early minor hockey in the TAMHA.
“As a 16-year-old Jacob plays as if he’s been in the league a couple years,” Lynds said. “Jacob works hard on his defensive zone coverage, his natural foot speed allows him to jump in on an offensive rush and he has an above-average shot from the point.”
The veteran coach, noticeably happy with the big win, commented.
“There was lots of excitement in our dressing room after the game. The coaching staff was extremely proud of the no-quit in every one of our players after we had fell behind.”
Lynds pointed out that the Elks are the youngest team in the league; they carry 17 first- and second-year players of which 12 are rookies.
“As a coaching staff we decided we had to go this young, we had to get the program going in the right direction. Our coaching staff love the attitude in the dressing room, as for the future its beginning to look much brighter.”
The second win of the regular season for the local junior B club was well-described by one hockey fan, who had made the trip from Kentville to watch the game.
“When Caelan Blaikie went end-to-end Jean Beliveau style and scored the winning goal in overtime, it was like the Elks had won the Stanley Cup, what a jubilant celebration.”
Meanwhile, Lynds and the coaching staff thoughtfully wanted to thank their fans and team sponsors while extending best wishes to everyone for Christmas.
Following a holiday break in the schedule, the Elks will return to the Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex to host Valley — Saturday, Jan. 4, opening faceoff will be 4 p.m.
Lyle Carter’s sports column appears weekly in the Truro News. If you have a story idea, contact him at 902 673-2857.