PORT HAWKESBURY: The Cape Breton West Islanders came away with three wins after a busy four days.
On November 3, the Islanders handed the Cape Breton Unionized Tradesmen a 6-3 loss. Avery Warner opened the scoring less than a minute and a half into the game, with Malcolm MacEachern and Keenan Gillis adding markers in the first stanza. Calum MacPherson and Spencer Barron each potted goals in the second period before the Tradesmen made their way onto the scoresheet. Barron added another maker in the third to help keep the islanders on top.
Islanders goalie Ewan MacDonald made nine saves while his team peppered the Tradesmen’s net with 58 shots.
It was a tighter affair the next night with the Islanders taking out Weeks Major Midgets 5-4 during a road trip to Pictou. Barron opened the scoring for the Islanders and Sean Stewart added another in the first period. Weeks tied the game up in the second period leading to a high scoring third. The teams traded goals, with Baron adding another and Stephen Fox tying the game, before Logan Timmons notched the winner on a powerplay. MacDonald made 31 saves for the win.
The Islanders finished off their busy weekend with a 3-0 shutout of the Halifax McDonald’s Major Midgets on November 6. Jacob Hudson, Logan Chisholm, and Warner all tallied while MacDonald’s 27 saves helped keep the sheet clean.
“It wasn’t an easy schedule but we had a great effort in all three games and we got the results that we were hoping for,” said head coach Kyle MacDonald. “Can’t complain there.”
The Islanders lead the eight team Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League with an impressive 16 wins. Their lone loss came at the hands of the Moncton Flyers during interleague play on October 29. The team posted 99 goals while allowing only 28 during this time.
“We know that when you’re at the top, it’s not easy, every team is coming for you, they want to take you down so we prepare very well all week for teams that are going to come at us hard,” MacDonald said.
“We know as well that after Christmas, teams are going to get a lot better and we have to work really hard to improve ourselves.”
The Islanders will next take on Halifax at home on November 12 and 13.
