Another battle
Flyers beat Wild 1-0 in OT to win Ice Jam title as rivals have split eight games this season
The major midget championship game of the Chronicle Herald East Coast Ice Jam hockey tournament on Sunday afternoon did not disappoint.
Alex Gallant scored 2:58 into a 10-minute overtime period featuring 3-on-3 action to lift the Moncton Flyers to a thrilling 1-0 win over the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild in an all-New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League battle. The Wild defeated the Cape Breton West Islanders 4-1 in Sunday morning’s semifinal while the Flyers pulled out a 2-1 overtime decision over the Saint John Vitos on a goal by Charlottetown Islanders prospect Patrick LeBlanc.
The final featured an outstanding goaltending duel between the Flyers Jacob LeBlanc and the Wild’s Chad Arsenault, who was named the tournament’s top goaltender. Arsenault allowed only five goals in six games.
LeBlanc made some gave-saving stops late as the Wild failed to capitalize on its fourth power play of the game that carried over from the third period to the start of overtime.
Three other Wild players received tournament awards. Rookie Zach Biggar was selected a first team all-star defenceman while forward Colby MacArthur and defenceman Isaac Wilson received second-team all-star honours.
The Flyers (22-2-1) sit first in league play, two points ahead of the Wild (21-5-1). Including the Ice Jam and Monctonian AAA Challenge tournaments, the Wild and Flyers have split eight games this season. Four of those games have required overtime, with each team winning twice.
The Wild completed roundrobin play 2-0-1, with their only setback a 2-1 decision in extra time to the Steele Subaru of Dartmouth, N.S., on Friday.
Saturday, the Wild defeated Pictou County 4-1 in a Round of 16 playoff game in the afternoon, and then blanked the Cole Harbour WolfPack in an evening quarter-final.
Two other P.E.I. teams were eliminated in the Round of 16 The Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride lost 7-6 in a shootout to the Islanders while in major bantam play the Joneljim Cougars defeated the Charlottetown-based Central Attack 5-2.