Burghardt leads Leafs in points

The Valley Maple Leafs are sure hoping 2019 will treat them better than their most recent slate of games in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League.

The Leafs’ last game before the Christmas break was Dec. 10 in Sackville where they were walloped 8-1 by the second place Blazers.

The Leafs fell behind 5-0 after the first period in Sackville and 8-1 after two periods, with no scoring in the third.

Cody Burghardt’s power-play goal ruined the Blazers’ shut-out bid with 1:41 to play in the middle period.

Burghardt now has 10 goals and 15 assists on the season for 25 points to lead the team in scoring.

Burghardt also tallied two markers in Liverpool on Dec. 1 when the Leafs were thrashed 9-4 by the Liverpool Privateers. Joe Parsons and Mitchell Singer added solo markers.

On Nov. 30 in Windsor, the Leafs handled the 1-17-0 Cumberland County Blues 5-2. The Blues took an early 2-0 lead but five unanswered goals by Michael Anthony, Manuel Manero, Robert MacDonald, Taylor Brown and Branden Schofield put this contest away.

They also had a 6-1 win over the 1-17-2 Brookfield Elks on Dec. 7 in Windsor, with Stuart Kennie scoring four times and adding an assist with single goals coming from MacDonald and Ethan RendellWatson.

Leafs’ spokesperson Dave Hunter said the final two games scheduled before Christmas for Dec. 14 and Dec. 16 against Liverpool and Port Hawkesbury were postponed and re-scheduled for the New Year. Their only other make-up game will be played Jan. 9 in Windsor against the Antigonish Jr. Bulldogs. This was a game originally scheduled for Nov. 16 but postponed because of a storm.

Heading into 2019

The Leafs have lost seven of their past 10 games and have several players out with injuries.

“We presently have four injured players, including Dean Vial suffering from a broken-collarbone. His return is still unclear,” said Hunter.

Kyle Keddy is suffering from a separated shoulder and his return date is also still unknown.

John Chambers, who had scored nine goals and added five assists for the Leafs, left Acadia for Mount Allison, where he is now playing for the Moncton Vitos, of the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League.

The Maple Leafs will open 2019 with three games they need to win.

They will host the Elks Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m., play Jan. 9 against the Bulldogs, and then host the Sackville Blazers on Jan. 11.