Crushers win against Yarmouth

NEW GLASGOW - It's not often that your best defensive player is your best offensive player.
That's what the Pictou?County Weeks Crushers have with second-year centreman Geoff Hum.
"He's probably the best defensive player in the league," coach Troy Ryan said after Hum scored three goals and assisted on another in their 5-4 win over the Yarmouth Mariners in MJHAL action Thursday night. "I don't know if I've seen anyone better. He's pretty valuable to us."
Hum wired a wrist shot high on the glove side of Dallas Ungurian in the first period to tie the game 1-1, scored shorthanded when he jumped on a loose puck and went in alone, then re-directed a pass early in the third for his first career hat trick in junior.
Hum says he enjoys the challenge of being the go-to guy offensively, as well as being called upon to help protect leads and kill penalties.
"You always want to be the guy in those situations," he said.
Stu Lenehan and Andrew Joudrey - in his return to the Crushers - also scored for Pictou County, Shawn O'Donnell assisted three times.
Hum's third goal of the night - his 14th of the season to go along with 16 assists - gave the Crushers a 5-1 lead early in the final frame. The Crushers then curtailed their strong forechecking game that had stymied Yarmouth for the first 40 minutes, and the Mariners pecked away at the lead. They made it 5-3 with about eight minutes to go, then scored with just five seconds remaining.
"Those guys score in bunches," Hum said, "and we learned that again tonight."
Former Crushers' Andrew Paquet, Randy Henley, Lauchlin MacInnis, Scott McManaman, Max Pelzner, Jevin MacLellan, Donnie Grant, and ex-assistant coaches Matt MacGillivray and Clary Melanson returned to JBM Stadium as the Crushers received their Fred Page Cup title rings and raised the FPC championship banner above centre ice.
Fans at JBM also heard a recorded message sent by ex-captain Scott Lavigne from his home in Sudbury, Ont.
Pictou County will now hit the road for their next four games; they play tonight in Restigouche against the Tigres, are at the Miramichi Timberwolves Saturday, and have games next weekend in Dieppe and Summerside.
Despite being a young team, the Crushers have actually played slightly better on the road then at home. Hum said playing on the road gives the team a chance play a simpler game and not try to wow the home crowd.
"On the road, we stick to our systems (and) maybe we're trying to impress at home by putting on a show."
Restigouche didn't give Pictou?County much trouble last Saturday, when the Crushers skated away with a 6-0 victory.