MOUNT WILLIAM – First game, first win.
Dylan Riley’s goal 47 seconds into overtime gave the Junior A Crushers a 2-1 win over the Valley Wildcats on Thursday, getting their season started in the right direction.
In a Maritime Hockey League game played at the Pictou County Wellness Centre, the Crushers struck first when Evan MacLennan scored on a breakaway midway through the opening period, with Brayden Ryan collecting an assist.
Tristan Bowlby tied it for the Wildcats late in the second period, and the score remained knotted before Riley broke through on a breakaway, with Barrett Dachyshyn and Aiden Hickey assisting on the game-winner.
Matt Normore was solid in the Crushers’ net when had to be, turning away 35 Valley shots.
“Normie played well. We had a gut feeling he’d have a good game and he did,” coach Doug Doull said.
The game was at times, sloppy, although “you expect that this time of year,” Doull said.
“We finally found our legs in the third period. We got it together and played hard.”
Pictou County will play the Amherst Ramblers on Sept. 20, the start of a three-games-in-three-nights stint next week that has them playing road games against the South Shore Lumberjacks and Yarmouth Mariners.