Express wins bronze

Jesse McGrath’s goal early in the third period helped send the Eastern Express to a bronze medal at the 2017 Atlantic bantam AAA hockey championship. McGrath broke a 2-2 tie, and that goal proved to be the difference as the Express edged the Tricom Thunder from Newfoundland and Labrador 3-2 in the third-place game at the APM Cenre on Sunday morning.

Overall, the Express completed play in the four-day tournament 4-2 (won-lost). New Brunswick’s Fredericton Blues defeated the ACA Rangers from Nova Scotia 6-1 in the championship game.

The host Mid-Isle Matrix completed round-robin play with three regulation-time losses and one shootout loss.

Close game

In the bronze-medal game, the Express and Thunder were tied 1-1 after the first period, and 2-2 following the second. Riley MacDougall and Lucas Parsons also scored for the Express while Sam MacNeill (2), Reid Peardon, Jacob MacPhee, William Proud and Cole Larkin drew assists. Alexander Doody and Andre Stuckless each had a goal and an assist for the Thunder. Winning goaltender Carter Champion turned in a 24-save performance.

Saturday

In play Saturday, the Express dropped a 4-2 decision to the Rangers while the Thunder edged the Matrix 3-2. Peardon and McGarth scored for the Express while Champion tended goal.

Landon Clow and Dixon MacLeod scored for Mid-Isle, which took a 2-1 lead into the third period. Jonah Arbing, who was named the top goaltender of the round robin, made 50 saves for the Matrix.