AESHL playoffs set to begin

The Avalon East Senior Hockey League playoffs begin Friday, with the opening games of best-of-seven semifinals. At Mobile, the Southern Shore Breakers, who finished first in the regular season, take on the Bell Island Blues, the defending champion St. John’s Caps face the Northeast Eagles at Jack Byrne Arena in Torbay.

There was little to choose among the top three teams in the Avalon East Senior Hockey League this season with five points separating the third-place St. John’s Toyota Plaza Caps from the first-place Southern Shore Puglisevich Breakers.

The Breakers topped the standings with 28 points, one more than the Tapper’s Northeast Eagles. The Caps had 23 points, while the Bell Island Wolf Construction Blues placed fourth with seven.

The best-of-five semifinals open Friday, with the Breakers taking on the Blues at 7:30 p.m. at Southern Shore Arena and three-time defending champion St. John’s playing Northeast at 8 p.m. at Jack Byrne Arena.

Saturday sees the Breakers travel to Bell Island for Game 2 of the series against the Blues at 7 p.m.

On Sunday, the Capitals host the Eagles at Rogers Bussey in Game 2 of their series. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Rogers Bussey.

The scoring race was just as tight as the team standings with players from the Eagles and Breakers dominating the top five positions.

Mason Reid of Northeast won the scoring title with 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points, two more than teammate runner up Chris Mooney ,who had a league-leading 18 goals. The Breakers’ Scott McCarthy finished third with 35 points, two more than Northeast’s Kevin Reid. Breakers’ Jeremy Nicholas rounded out the Top 5 with 31 points.