By Kevin Adshade
The News
WESTVILLE ROAD – If a slate of exhibition games this past weekend are any indication, the Junior A Crushers will dole out some punishment this season.
“We had some big bodies smashing out there, and as a coach, that was nice to see,” said Mike Danton, after his team returned home from the Battle of the Bridge Tournament in Summerside, where they split four games (the Summerside Western Capitals won the tournament).
The Crushers dished out 264 hits in the four games – each of them 50 minutes in length) – an average of 66 hits per game.
The Maritime Junior Hockey League club has whittled down its roster in the past week or so; the team currently has 14 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders. Not surprisingly, Andrew MacLeod and Matt Normore will be the goaltending tandem again this year, unless a better option falls out of the sky.
Danton said both goaltenders played well on P.E.I.
“They showed up in camp in good shape, and they’re looking to have a really good season,” he said.
Danton said the organization expects to make a couple more cuts in the days ahead, just in case they find a player they want to add to their roster (23-player limit).
“There’ll probably be a couple more cuts from that list. We’ll re-evaluate after these next two games against (the Truro Bearcats),” he said, referring to exhibition games this week.
To wrap up their exhibition schedule, the Crushers play the Truro Bearcats twice in the days ahead: Sept. 5 at the Pictou County Wellness Centre and Sept. 7 in Truro.
Both games have 7 p.m. start times.
Pictou County will open the Maritime Junior Hockey League regular season Sept. 12 against the Fredericton Red Wings.
ON AN ISLAND
The Crushers went 2-2, scoring seven goals in four games, at the Battle of the Bridge tournament this past weekend in Summerside, P.E.I. Here are the results:
Pictou County Crushers 1, Summerside Western Capitals 0
Crusher Notes:
• Goals: Andrew Burden (unassisted)
• Matthew Normore made 32 saves for the shutout.
Pictou County Crushers 3, Amherst Ramblers 0
Crusher Notes:
• Goals: Aiden Hickey, Andrew Burden, Matthew Burden.
• Maxime Grandmaison had two assists.
• Andrew MacLeod made 30 saves for the shutout.
Edmundston Blizzard 6, Pictou County Crushers 3
Crusher Notes:
• Goals: Samuel LeBlanc, Brayden Ryan, Colin Parker
• Jeremy Robar and Andrew MacLeod split the goaltending chores in the 50-minute game.
Summerside Western Capitals 3, Pictou County Crushers 0
Crusher Notes:
• Jake Martin, Kevin Mason and Andrew Burden all had five-minute fighting majors and game misconducts.
• Matthew Normore made 35 saves.
