LOUISDALE: The 41st Annual Freddie MacNeil Memorial Royals Gents Hockey Tournament took place at the Richmond Arena last weekend with three divisions participating.
There was an Over 35 A division with five teams, an Over 35 B division with four teams, and six teams in the Under division.
In the Over 35 B division championship, the Martell Cartel (3-0) took on MacLeods from St. Peter’s (2-1), and it was the Martells coming out on top with a score of 4-3 in a shootout. Richard Boudreau had the shoot out winner. Warren Benoit was great in the nets for Martells throughout the game earning him the MVP of the game.
In the Over 35A division’s second vs. third place game, Baddeck (2-1) took on Team Misfits (1-2). Carl MacKinnon from Baddeck scored with 28 seconds left in the game for the win. Baddeck advanced to the championship game against the number one team in the division, the PH Kings (3-0).
In the championship game, Baddeck had a 3-1 lead late in the last period but with less than three minutes left, the Kings came back to tie the game. Tim MacMillan scored with 38 seconds left. This sent the game to overtime and with five seconds left on the clock in the 5-minute overtime period, Kenny Wood scored the game winner for the PH Kings.
This is the Kings’ seventh consecutive title in the Over 35 division. Kenny Wood was the MVP of the game for the Kings.
In the Under division, the first cross over game was Platinum (3-0) vs. Thrill Billies (1-2). Platinum came out on top 5-4 in a shoot out. Devon Landry scored the winner.
The PH Kings were the Over 35 A Division Champs at last week’s tourney at the Richmond Arena.
In the second crossover game, the Renegades (3-0) beat Inverness (2-1) 5-2 to advance to the championship against Platinum.
In the Under championship game, Platinum came out on top in a shoot out with Devon Landry scoring the winner and earning the MVP of the game. This was Platinum‘s fourth consecutive title in the under division and their sixth in seven years.
This year’s tournament had a total of 15 teams and 29 games. The three championship games went to overtime with two of them ending in a shootout. The competition this year was the best it’s been in years, said organizer Leon Burt. It was great adding a team from Inverness that was very competitive in the under division, he said.
“This tournament is a great way to end the hockey for a lot of players and teams,” the organizer said. “Players come from as far as Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Sydney and other areas, to meet up with old friends and have a great competitive weekend of hockey.
“All proceeds from this tournament go right back to minor hockey as well as for bursaries to our local schools in Freddie’s name.”
The Freddie MacNeil Committee (Leon Burt, Joan Burke, Natasha Mury, Mike Diggdon and Craig Digout) would like to thank all the volunteers that came out to help sell 50/50 tickets, refereed games, or helped in any way. Liam Burt did the clock and played music for all 29 games and did a great job.
“We also would like to thank our sponsors (MacBouch Restaurant & Lounge, R.M. Landry & Son, Premium Seafoods Group, Norvon Enterprises Ltd., Burns Vision Center, Highland Beverages, Breton Wealth Management, Jeantie’s Mini Mart/Kenny’s Pizza, Guardian Island Pharmacy, Diggdon’s Freight Service, System Care Cleaning and Restoration, The County of Richmond, Joe Pop, and Kin-Excel) for their continued support! It is greatly appreciated,” Burt said.