Bantam AA Crushers go 2-1 at New Brunswick tournament

After two weeks off for Christmas, the Pictou County Bantam AA Crushers took part in the Riverview Winter Classic tournament in New Brunswick, Jan. 5-6.  

The Crushers first opponent would be the Riverview Bantam AA Blues who are the top team in their league.  The first period was fast paced, back and forth action with the goalies shining for a scoreless opening period.  The second period the players took over the show with the Crushers opening the scoring mid way through the period when Myles Farnsworth won the offense faceoff back to Adam Farrell who shot the puck past the goalie.  The lead was short lived, 12 seconds later Riverview tied the game and scored another to make it 2-1.  Ross Martin tied the game at two for the Crushers at 7:22. In the final minutes of the period Riverview added two more to make it 4-2.  With a half a minute to go the Crushers pressed their opponents net and Ryan Denny scored to end the second period trailing Riverview 4-3.  The Crushers continued to play hard as a team and forced the play in the third and they were rewarded for their efforts.  Tanner Steele scored the tying goal at 7:47 and Covey Cameron netted the winning goal on a hard shot from the point, giving the Crushers a 5-4 victory.  Assist came from  Martin(2), singles from Steele and Farrell. Xander Vohs played strong in nets.  Player of the game went to Ross Martin.

Later that afternoon the Crushers played Moncton Hawks Bantam AA.  Another close game for the Crushers where they had to move the puck quickly.   Pictou County scored first with a goal by Cam MacKinnon.  Martin added another late in the period to end the first up 2-0.    Moncton scored first in the second period but Crushers answered with two of their own by Noah MacDonald and Farrell.  Moncton scored another only to be answered by Cameron of the Crushers to end the period with Pictou County up 5-2.  In the third period the Hawks added one and again Cameron answered for the Crushers finding the five hole with a blast from center ice.  Jacob Fraser made some big saves in the third earning the 6-4 win for Pictou County and player of the game.  Assist by Martin, Chris Avery and Brent Chapman.

Pictou County Bantam AA finished the opening day of the tournament in first place of their pool.  On Sunday morning Crushers needed a win or a tie against NB East Phantoms Bantam Minor AAA to go to the gold medal game.  The Phantoms scored early in the game but the Crushers proved they could play alongside them for a very entertaining game.  NB Bantam Minor AAA scored again in the second to make it 2-0.  The Crushers created chances but could not capitalize until 8:21 of the third when MacKinnon got the puck to the back of the net on a pass from Steele and Adam Fraser.  The Crushers ran into penalty trouble after that but penalty killers Dylan Kontuk, Camden Kelly, Farnsworth and Denny killed a 5 on 3 late in the game keeping the Crushers hopes alive.  Xander Vohs earned player of the game for his outstanding performance, keeping the game close for a very exciting ending.  Crushers fell 2-1.

Next weekend the Pictou County Bantam AA will take part in the Royal Canadian Legion Challenge Cup in Sydney, Cape Breton January 12-13