Since losing their opening two games the major bantam squad hasn’t lost a game in regulation. They won four straight before falling 3-2 Sunday at home in a shootout to the Newbridge Senators.
Kevin Mason and Matt Shediac scored for Scotsburn in the game, while Mitchell Cummer made 22 saves in goal.
Tristan Colley made 24 saves in the Newbridge win, while Liam Kidney and Bailey Peach produced offensively.
The two teams were tied 1-1 after the first, where the score remained until Chediac’s goal 22 seconds into the third frame.
Midway through the period Kidney scored to knot things 2-2. It stayed that way to force overtime and eventually the shootout.
“Going into the weekend if someone had asked if I’d be happy getting three of four (points) I would’ve been very happy,” said head coach Jeff Green. “Both goaltenders played very well. Saturday was another tough battle, but they played well and there are a lot of positive things happening.”
On the road on Saturday, Scotsburn topped the Nova Jr. X-Men 3-2.
Ryan MacLennan opened the scoring for the Crushers, with Kevin Mason adding two more in the victory. Andrew MacLeod turned aside 22 X-Men shots in his third win of the season.
Looking at their last few weekends, Kevin Mason has played a big role in the team’s success. Green said he’s recognized this, calling him a “huge force in the league right now.”
“Kevin has been a force for us lately,” he said. “He scored two goals yesterday and a goal today. For the last three games he has been a dominating player. He’s certainly playing well for us right now.”
Since that opening weekend, Green said they have challenged the kids to get better physically and mentally prepared. The coaching staff also challenged them to prepare to compete to the best of their abilities.
“Kids are going to make mistakes, but it’s not for a lack of trying,” said Green. “I’ve been really happy with the consistency. We’re finding a way to compete every game and put ourselves in a position to win the game.”
Confidence has also helped the squad. They go into the Thanksgiving weekend break sitting fifth in the NSMBHL, one point back of the Dartmouth Whalers and Bedford Barons.
“They have confidence that we can compete with anybody, which hasn’t happened in a long time,” he said. “We’re really happy with the kids. It also puts a lot of pressure on them knowing they have to play at that level every game, but they’ve done it five games in a row, so they deserve some credit.”
Next weekend the Atlantic Challenge Cup will be played in Moncton, with the top U-14/U-15 male and U-15/U-18 female hockey players from the Atlantic provinces taking part.
Their captain Jake Martin, who made the team over the summer, will represent the Crushers.
“I have all the confidence that he’ll have a great Atlantic Challenge Cup,” said Green. “We’re looking forward to see how he does and wish him all the best. Anyone that was good enough to win the Hard Hat Award last year isn’t there just to be a positional player. He’s someone they’ll rely on for offence or defence. Whatever they need him to do, he’ll do it.”
On Twitter: @NGNewsChris
