League News
Opening week boys league game recaps
The 2021-2022 VHSHL league season is underway. You can read game recaps from the season opening Oct. 21-24 slate of games from the boys league here. The game recaps are supplied by the home team.
Thursday, Oct. 21
NKEC 3 – Middleton 1
In a rare Thursday night game, the home side NKEC Titans took on the Middleton Monarchs at the Palace in Canning. Middleton started off strong and showed that they were going to be a team that can compete with anyone this year. The Monarchs played a feisty game and didn't give the Titans much time or space with the puck.
The Titans struck first on the scoreboard with a goal by Ethan Escott late in the first period to take a 1-0 lead into the first break.
The second period was much of the same as the first, but with a large amount of penalties being called by the officials the flow of the game was halted and the PK for both teams were put to work. Both goalies played incredibly well and kept the game close as both teams were exchanging chances.
NKEC was able to strike again, to take a 2-0 lead late in the second period on a goal from Titan rookie Peter MacDougall.
The third period saw both sides exchanging chances with each side getting a goal. The Titan goal scorer was Will Harris, while the Monarchs’ only goal of the game was scored by Riley Noble.
The game ended with a score of 3-1 for the home side. It was a great start to another season, good luck to everyone this weekend.
FRIDAY, OCT. 22
Park View 5 – Barrington 0
The Barrington Barons hosted the Park View Panthers for the two teams' first games of the VHSHL 2021-2022 season.
The Panthers opened their season with a 5-0 victory on the road over the Barons.
Highlights of the game, scoring-wise, were provided by Nathan Lambourne who picked up two goals and an assist and rookie Fischer Genge who also scored twice.
Captain Ryan Jensen rounded out the scoring. Owen Lockwood had a solid game in net making timely saves earning the shoutout.
The Panthers host their first home game on Saturday night when they play the NKEC Titans.
Avon View 6 – Central Kings 1
On Oct. 22 the Berwick Apple Dome was the site of the season opener for the Central Kings Gators and the Avon View Avalanche. The early play belonged to Avon View. With an early cycle play, they worked the puck to Camdyn Burgess, who came out of the corner to get a shot on Locke Albrecht, who made the initial save, with the rebound going in to give Avon View the 1-0 lead.
Central Kings and Avon View exchanged penalties in the middle minutes of the period with neither side capitalizing on their power plays. About midway through the period, Avon View was outshooting CK 6-3.
Late in the first period Avon View, while short-handed, managed to chip the puck outside their blueline, which was retrieved by Terran Bailey. Bailey skated on a breakaway with a nice move to the backhand and finished upstairs making the score 2-0. At the end of the period, shots were 11-6 for Avon View.
Starting the second period, Watty Walker of the Gators intercepted a D-to-D Avon View pass, and skated through center ice on a breakaway to release a powerful shot and score top shelf for CK’s first goal of the game and the season.
The play after the goal by Walker was in Avon View’s favor, who kept pressure on the CK team, with the bulk of play in their end.
Late in the second period, Terran Bailey stole the puck in the CK end and scored again with a nice move to finish with his second of the game, making the score 3-1 for Avon View.
Carter Hood, with some nice work down low in the CK end, retrieved the puck and worked it to the front of the CK net where Owen Chaisson finished upstairs to make it 4-1.
A few minutes later, a shot from the point from Avon View resulting in Austin Hood tapping in the rebound making it 5-1 Avon View (assists to Camdyn Burgess and Eric Giswold).
The final goal came with 3:26 remaining by Brayden Hood, who was left alone in front of the net to finish (assists toTerran Bailie and Brody Richard).
Central Kings battled for two periods with strong goaltending by Locke Albrecht, but the final period tilted in Avon View’s favor. Terran Bailie had a 3-point night, to lead the Avalanche to a victory. The final score was Avon View 6 – Central Kings 1.
Par-en-Bas 5 – Forest Heights 1
Forest Heights Community School held its home opener against the PEB Sharks on Oct. 22.
The Sharks were eager to showcase their new team after their appearance in last year’s final. Forest Heights saw a lot of players age out last year, so the team worked hard to recruit a few players out of retirement in order to build this year’s team.
PEB opened the scoring taking an early 3-0 lead with 7:34 left in the first period. But FHCS fought back by scoring just 4 seconds after the third PEB goal, with an incredible play by Rafuse, Hill, and Connors to break the shutout run and end the first period 3-1. The Falcons played a disciplined game, taking only 3 penalties compared to the 9 from PEB. Unfortunately, the Falcons could not capitalize on their power play opportunities. PEB scored a single in each of the second and third periods, a clear sign that Forest Heights’ new team had settled their nerves. Ultimately, Spencer Surette of the Sharks proved to be hard to contain and ended the game with 2 goals and 1 assist on the night.
Saturday, OCT. 23
Clare 7 – Forest Heights 4
The Clare Loups (2-0-0) held their home opener on Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Université Sainte-Anne arena in Church Point in front of a loud home crowd. The Forest Heights Falcons took a 2-0 lead after 1 period of play as Mackenzie Connors (assisted by N. Hill & D. Rafuse) and Matt Hill (from D. Rafuse) both scored on the power play.
The second period saw the Loups come back to tie the game at 2-2 with goals from Gaetan Deveau (assisted by R. Trimper & Zach Comeau) and Miguel deJesus (from J. Belliveau & L. LeBlanc). The Falcons managed to reply late and take a 3-2 lead with only 34.6 seconds to go in the frame, off a Hudson Broome unassisted goal as Forest Heights took a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of play.
The final period saw Forest Heights open up the scoring with only 27 seconds gone as Dylan Rafuse (assisted by M. Hill) hit the twine for the Falcons. Clare then took over the offense for the rest of the period scoring 5 unanswered goals that saw Miguel deJesus with his 2nd goal (J. Belliveau & N. Hanna), Nema Hanna (M. deJesus & A. Theriault), Zack Comeau (Zach Comeau & N. Hanna), Miguel deJesus with his hat trick (C. Comeau & Zach Comeau) and finally Chase Comeau (M. deJesus & Zack Comeau). The final score was 7-4 for Clare.
The Loups won both games this weekend to start their VHSHL season. Seth Zinck took the loss in nets for the Falcons while Mathieu LeBlanc got the win in nets for Clare.
Scorers for Forest Heights: Matt Hill 1G & 2A - 3 PTS, Dylan Rafuse 1G & 2A - 3 PTS, Mackenzie Connors 1G & Hudson Broome 1G.
Scorers for Clare: Miguel deJesus 3G & 2A - 5 PTS, Nema Hanna 1G & 2A - 3 PTS, Zach Comeau 3A, Zack Comeau 1G & 1A - 2 PTS, Chase Comeau 1G & 1A - 2 PTS, Jakeb Bellveau 2A, Gaetan Deveau 1G, Ryan Trimper 1A, Luca LeBlanc 1A & Alex Theriault 1A.
Horton 2 – Par-en-Bas 1 (SO)
The Horton Griffins took to the ice to play against the Par-en-Bas Sharks. There was a big crowd to show their support for the home team, but this didn't faze the Sharks.
The Griffins came out trying to throw their weight around, but were a little overzealous and CJ Zink ended up taking a 4-minute hit-to-the-head penalty one minute into the game.
The always crafty # 77 Spencer Surette showed his dominance in the faceoff circle not losing a single draw during the powerplay. The Griffins kept the crafty sharks to the outside and were able to kill off the penalty with limited chances against, and when they did Mason Veinotte was up for the task in the nets. Much of the rest of the period was all Sharks who had possession of the puck for the majority of the period.
The Griffins started to find their feet by the end of the first period and created some good scoring opportunities, but goaltender Miguel Surette was up for the task making several good saves. At the 6:50 mark, the Griffins were able to solve Surette as Cohen Sawler went around the net and made a pass to Brady Clarke in the slot who was able to finish.
The second period was all Sharks and the always dangerous Spencer Surette, #77, took a point shot that went off the boards, and then he wrapped it around the net and beat Veinotte. The second period would end in a 1-1 tie and the Griffins were looking tired.
The Griffins found some energy for the third period to match the Shark's energy but both goaltenders were up for the task and the game headed into the new format of 3-on-3 overtime.
Chances were exchanged for both teams in overtime but again, both goaltenders were up for the task.
In the shootout, both goalies made great saves on the first two shooters but Mason Veinotte made the save of the night on a great move by Surette to his backhand, only to find the glove of a sprawling Veinotte.
CJ Zinck was able to solve Miguel Surette in net with a backhand to forward deke.
Then Mason Veinotte was able to shut the door on the final Shark shooter for a win for the Griffins.
It was a clean game with only 8 penalties in total.
Park View 5 – NKEC 0
The Park View Panthers hosted the NKEC Titans in their home opener on Saturday night in the cozy confines of the Lunenburg Arena. With a large home crowd behind them, the Panthers stormed out of the gate carrying the play and putting lots of pressure on the Titans.
Stellar goaltending by David McCulley kept the Panthers at bay until the 7:25 mark of the first period when captain Ryan Jensen dented the twine with Mitch MacIntosh and Carlos White picking up the assists.
The Panthers continued to pressure the Titans, carrying the play and firing shots on McCulley who was up to the challenge stopping them all. That, however, changed with 1:45 remaining in the first period when a point shot from Liam Sylvester was redirected in front, finding the back of the net. Although Sylvester was credited with the goal, it was the stick of Dylan Demone that did the damage.
This seemed to ignite a fire in Demone who potted his second of the game on the PP shortly thereafter with only .03 seconds remaining in the opening frame, with assists going to Jack Barry and Fischer Genge.
The Titans came out strong to start the second period, putting the pressure on the Panthers, however, stellar goaltending by Charlie Whitty kept them off the board. At 8:12 of the frame, Mitch MacIntosh extended the lead for the Panthers with assists going to Ethan Corkum and Jonas Talbot. Nathan Culbert rounded out the scoring in the third, picking up his first of the season with the assist going to Ethan Corkum.
In what can best be described as a hard-fought physical battle with great goaltending from both Charlie Whitty and David McCulley, the Panthers prevailed picking up the 5-0 win.
Central Kings 4 – Digby 3
This year the Digby Mariners have returned to the VHSHL after a year off.
The Mariners had their home opener against the always-strong Central Kings Gators. It was a back and forth game with both teams playing hard.
Digby opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from Austin Walker. CK tied it up with one from Sam Rogers. The first period ended with a 1-1 tie.
The second period saw Rogers with two more goals and one from Mariner Daniel Jamieson. The teams went into the third period CK in the lead and Digby trailing 4-2. The Mariners’ Avery Gunn scored the only goal in the third period that saw the game end in CK’s favour with a 4-3 win over Digby.
It was a great game, even with the loss for the Mariners in their first game back in the league.
SUNDAY, OCT. 24
West Kings 3 – Yarmouth 2
The Yarmouth Vikings hosted the West Kings Wolverines in the Vikings’ first home game of the VHSHL 2021-2022 season.
West Kings came out strong, outshooting YCMHS by a larger margin in the game. However, the game remained scoreless after one period.
Yarmouth scored 2 goals in the 2nd period, with WK scoring a late goal to make it 2-1 for the Vikings after 2 periods.
In the 3rd period, WK again outshot YCMHS and scored 2 more goals.
Yarmouth hit the post late in the game but could not get the equalizer.
The visiting Wolverines ended up winning the game 3-2.
A shout out to Yarmouth goalie Brady Saulnier who played a strong game, stopping 51 shots in the loss.