NKEC Titans eyeing provincial banner after winning regionals
According to head coach Colin Duncan, the NKEC Titans “really had to rely on team depth and veteran experience” to capture the Western Region D-2 boys’ hockey banner March 9 in Berwick.
They’ll need to use that again March 27-29 as they head to provincials.
“We will have a lot of work in front of us if we want to compete at provincials,” Duncan said.
The Titans, he said, “played well enough to win” at regionals, but the team will need to be on their toes at provincials.
NKEC will be after a fifth provincial D2 boys’ title at this year’s provincials. The Titans won provincials in 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2012, and were provincial runners-up in 2004, 2009 and 2013.
NKEC defeated Yarmouth 3-2 in overtime in the regional final after winning 42 over Barrington and 6-2 over Horton in round robin play.
Logan Bishop had the overtime winner against Yarmouth, and assisted on another goal. Luke Russell and Griffin Abbott had the Titans’ goals in regulation time.
NKEC finished a competitive fourth in the VHSHL regular season, and might have finished higher if inclement weather hadn’t meant several games were postponed in February that they were unable to make up.
Despite only three losses - one in overtime - in 20 games, success at regionals was by no means a given.
Duncan pointed out that NKEC “entered regionals missing our top two scorers ( Jonah Vidito and Kyle Keddy, who combined for 28 regular season goals) and both starting goaltenders (Noah Turner and Colin Beckwith).”
The Titans had a pair of Grade 9 students, Harrison Boutilier and Zach Mason, between the pipes.
“(Boutilier) played the majority of the time, but Zach played two periods against Barrington after Harrison was injured,” Duncan said.
“The boys worked hard, and were well disciplined on the ice, which helped us succeed.”
He gave special mention to Braden Gauthier and Ian Belliveau “who led by example and were determined to make sure (NKEC) came out on top.”
With the win at regionals, NKEC now advances to the D-2 boys’ provincials March 27-29, hosted by Eastern Shore Regional High. Yarmouth, the Western Region runner-up, and third place regional finisher Central Kings also advance to provincials.