Middleton high school alumni hockey pits decades of players in holiday fun

On Boxing Day, the Middleton and District Arena rang with cheers as the annual Grad Hockey games were held before an appreciative crowd.

In the opening action former Acadia U star on the ice and the rugby pitch, Natasha Wotton, sniped four goals in leading the Grads to a 6-1 win for the Grad Girls over the current MRHS Girls Monarchs.

Additional Grad goals were rung up by Bailey George and Nicole Thibault. Maddie Reeves in the Grad net had her bid for a shutout spoiled by Kenzie Veinot assisted by Tristan Saltzman.

The middle game of the night featured Grad Boys from after 1998 divided into two squads. Both Chad Bent and Tyler Murphy were strong in their respective nets in the low-scoring game. Big Nick Hazelwood was a scoring machine in leading his team to victory while Robert Bruce and Matt Smith were both such a bulwark on the blueline. On the losing side the defence was led by rangy Ryan Coleman and Tyler Wotton with the offence led by Chris England and James Medicraft. Unfortunately, the actual scoring summary was unavailable at press time.

In the final game the Ancient Blue and Gold Grads led by MRHS coach emeritus Albert Peppard schooled the 2018-19 Monarch Boys 7-4.

Terrific Timmy Cole once again led the Ancients with a brace of goals as did ‘Ringer’ Big Nick Hazelwood along with a helper. ‘Grizzled’ Matt Hazelwood, not to be totally outshone by son Nick, picked up a goal and an assist.

Monarchs assistant coach Chris Llewellyn banged home a goal with an assist, while coach Jim Johnson ( despite being checked closely all night) had numerous great scoring chances only to be foiled by Jesse Porteous guarding the twines for the Monarchs. Johnson did garner an assist! ‘Ageless’ Chris Jensen had the other Ancients goal while Clayton Dauphinee and Jason ‘Jet’ Hoffman both garnered assists.

Kevin ‘Farmer’ Saltzman looked more than adequate up front for the Ancients as did ‘Pistol’ Pete MacLean. Saltzman has been practicing with the Charles Lewis All-Stars it has been rumoured. It was great to see the foursome of Johnson, Hoffman, Clinton Lewis, and Big Joe Robicheau showing the speed and skill that enabled them to win two back-to-back atom provincial championships in the mid 1980s.

Scoring for the 2018-19 Monarchs were: Luke Sawler from Thomas Connell; Tayler Veinot followed by the ‘Red Rocket’ Cory Johnson both unassisted; and finally ‘Nifty’ Ned Brooks from Veinot.

All three games were very exciting with lots of scoring, plenty of close back-and-forth hockey, wonderful camaraderie, delicious treats from the canteen, and friends not seen for some time! Looking forward to MRHS Grad Hockey 2019!

LAWRENCE POWELL The 2018-19 Monarch Boys might have lost the final game in the annual MRHS Boxing Day Grad Hockey games, but they kept the Ancients on their toes. The Ancients won the contest 7-4 but the young guys started the scoring three minutes into the first of two 26-minute periods when Thomas Connell set up Luke Sawler for the opening marker.

LAWRENCE POWELL The Ancients in blue, and the current Monarchs Boys, in gold, fought a backand-forth battle in the third game of the MRHS Boxing Day Grad Hockey games. The Ancients won 7-4.

LAWRENCE POWELL The Ancient Blue and Gold Grads defeated the current MRHS Monarchs Boys 7-4 in the final contest of the annual MRHS Boxing Day Grad Hockey games. Coach emeritus, 91-year-old Albert Peppard, was teacher, principal, and longtime coach at MRHS going back to 1949.