WESTVILLE ROAD –
Things don’t get too complicated at the hockey rink: the team that works hardest usually wins.
“We were just consistent in our effort,” said Junior A Crushers captain Jake Martin, after his club picked up two road victories this past weekend, getting wins against the Campbellton Tigers and Miramichi Timberwolves.
“We played two full 60-minute games. All week, when we were preparing, practices were a lot of compete and battle drills, and I think that helped us on the ice (in New Brunswick).”
Goaltender Andrew MacLeod backstopped both wins, one of them a 41-save effort against the Tigers that included a couple of moments of sheer larceny.
“Andrew was outstanding, absolutely outstanding,” said coach Mike Danton. “It was the best I’ve seen him play since I started watching him last year. He made the easy ones, and he made some tougher ones, so it was nice to see.”
The Crushers, who’ve won two games in a row for the first time in two months, are back home this week, with a Nov. 14 game against the Yarmouth Mariners (7 p.m. at the Pictou County Wellness Centre). They also play at the Amherst Ramblers the following night and are in the Valley on Nov. 16 to take on the Wildcats.
The Mariners last visit to the PCWC (Oct. 24) was one the Crushers would sooner forget, as Yarmouth out-worked, out-chanced and out-scored Pictou County in a 6-2 romp.
“They’ve got a couple of players that are pretty dangerous,” Martin said of the Mariners. “Ever since I’ve been in the league, Yarmouth’s always been a good team. It’ll be a good challenge for us.”
Crushers 4, Campbellton 0
Goaltender Andrew MacLeod was the game’s first star as the Crushers blanked the Tigers. Dallas Farrell notched a pair of goals, and Jaden Mason and Evan Gallant also scored. Kevin Mason and Logan Vande Meerakker each had two assists.
Crushers 5, Miramichi 3
Saturday night in Miramichi, Aiden Hickey, Kevin Mason, Vande Meerakker, Andrew Burden and Jaden Mason scored for the Crushers, and Logan Rawlyk assisted on two goals.
MacLeod made 31 saves in getting his second win of the weekend.
BY THE NUMBERS
Pictou County Crushers
Record: 8-7 (4th place, South Division)
Top Scorers: Sullivan Sparkes (3G, 15A), Logan Vande Meerakker (5G, 9A), Kevin Mason (6G, 5A), Dallas Farrell (4G, 6A).
Stats Say: The Crushers lead the MHL in penalty kill success (88.9 per cent).
Yarmouth Mariners
Record: 11-6-3 (2nd place, South Division)
Top Scorers: Cole Kirkup (5G, 9A), Matt Duggan (1G, 12A), Luke Wilson (8G, 4A), Darren Waterman (3G, 7A).
Stats Say: In their most recent road game (Nov. 6 at the Amherst Ramblers), eight different players scored goals in an 8-0 win for Yarmouth, as the Mariners scored four power play goals and also had a shorthanded tally.
