SYDNEY, N.S. — What do the Strait Pirates, Antigonish AA Munro Bulldogs, and Kameron Miners have in common heading into the Christmas break?
The three Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League teams are neck-and-neck in the Sid Rowe Division with only three points separating the first-place Pirates from the third-place Miners.
Strait enters the holiday break leading the division with 31 points after posting a 14-5-1-2 record during the first half of the year.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs sit in second place, one point up by the Miners, with a 14-4-1-0 record and 29 points with three games in hand on the Pirates.
As for the Miners, the team hasn’t played a game since Nov. 30, due to university exams, and has a record of 13-2-1-1 and 28 points with two games in hand on the Antigonish team and five games on the Strait squad.
Pirates head coach Taylor Lambke isn’t surprised the division is as close as it is heading into the second half of the 2019-20 season.
“We knew it was going to be a dogfight and it’s turned out to be exactly that,” said Lambke. “We’re three really good organizations and I think three good coaches and three rosters full of players with a lot of talent.”
Strait gained sole possession of first place in the division with a 4-2 win over Antigonish at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre last Friday.
“It probably was a little more desperation for us and meant a little bit more because we’re a few games ahead of them,” said Lambke about the game. “I think we really needed to win that game to give ourselves a chance to maybe win the division or at least finish ahead of Antigonish for the playoffs.”
The Pirates are led offensively by Jacob Keagan and Josh Foster. Keagan has 16 goals and 30 points, while Foster has 17 goals and 29 points. Branden Dauphinee (25 points), Bryce Reynolds (23 points) and Avery Warner (20 points) round out the team's top five scorers.
As for the Miners, head coach Ryan Boutilier is pleased with where his team is, stats-wise, as of now.
“All three teams are trying to finish first because that first-round matchup between teams two and three, there’s no doubt that it’s going to be a seven-game series,” said Boutilier.
“The key right now is to finish first in the division and play the fourth-place team, but in saying that, the four-place team is still going to be a good, strong battle.”
With the division as tight as it is, Boutilier believes it speaks to the quality of players within a two-and-a-half-hour distance.
“I think the Cape Breton area has always been strong,” said Boutilier. “Antigonish is drawing from St. Francis Xavier University also, so I think that helps as well, but it just says to the talent pool that we have in the area.”
Forwards Mitchell Johnston and Daniel Reid have provided the bulk of the Miners’ offense this season. Both have 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points in 16 games.
Brandon Farrell (23 points), Dylan Morley (22 points) and Josh MacKay (19 points) conclude the top five on the Miners' offense.
Like the Sid Rowe Division, the Fred Fox Division is also tight with only eight points separating the Sackville Blazers (34 points) and the Cole Harbour Colts (26 points), with East Hants and Liverpool in between.
"The top three or four teams in each division are really good hockey teams,” said Lambke. “The junior ‘B’ league has really grown a lot in the last few years, the quality of players is getting better and better and the games are getting better and better.”
The Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League will kick off the second half of its season on Dec. 27 when the Miners host the Eskasoni Eagles at 7:30 p.m. at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre.
The Miners and Eagles will also play on Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Dan K. Stevens Memorial Arena in Eskasoni.
As for the Pirates, they return to the ice on Jan. 4 when they play the Privateers in Liverpool. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will play the Miners on Jan. 4 in Membertou.
“It’s going to be an exciting finish to the season,” said Boutilier. “It’s excellent hockey and you don’t know who’s going to win on any given night.”
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