Red Wings lose semifinal
Cap-Pelé ends Western’s season at Don Johnson Memorial Cup
The Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings season came to an end on Saturday night in Fredericton, N.B.
The Red Wings lost 4-1 to the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League-champion Cap-Pelé Predators in a semifinal at the Don Johnson Memorial Cup.
“We played an excellent hockey team,” said Red Wings head coach Nathan DesRoches. “In my opinion, they were the class of the tournament from Day 1.
“The tank was just empty for us. We played all of the tournament short bodies and it started to show in that game, especially for our top players who played big minutes. There was nothing left in the tank. I’m really proud of the way we played.”
At Willie O’Ree Place, Alexi Guitard had one goal and three assists to lead the Predators, who scored twice in the last half of the opening frame to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Cap-Pelé scored in the final minute of the second period to take a 3-0 cushion into the second intermission.
Cole Hackett, who was assisted by Lucas Beaulieu and Chasse Gallant, got the Red Wings on the board 47 seconds into the third period to make it 3-1. However, Miles Clements answered back for the Predators 3:33 into the final stanza to close out the scoring.
Tchad LeBlanc and Kevin McGraw also scored for Cap-Pelé.
The Predators had a 38-33 advantage in shots. Mathieu Landry earned the win while Bronson Banks took the loss.
Gallant, a forward, was the lone Red Wing named to the tournament’s all-star team.
Western’s team captain had a team-leading 11 points – four goals and seven assists – to finish third in round-robin scoring. Three of Gallant’s tallies came on the power play.
“He was outstanding,” said DesRoches. “It was the best hockey I have seen him play maybe all year.
“Kudos to his linemates, Jason Gallant and Cole Hackett, because they were top notch too. They were one of the most deadly lines in the whole tournament.”
The host Fredericton Caps defeated Newfoundland and Labrador’s South Shore Breakers 7-3 in the other semifinal to set up an all-New Brunswick final on Sunday afternoon. CapPelé edged Fredericton 3-2 to claim the Atlantic junior B hockey championship.