U18 Major Islanders goaltender Jack Bell uses his paddle to direct the puck into the corner while defencemen Thomas MacEachern and Jonah Ellis, and forward Mathieu Delaney, tie up the Valley forecheckers during Saturday’s playoff game, won 6-3 by the Islanders to complete a three-game sweep.
-by Bill Dunphy
There will be no donairs on the menu for the Cape Breton West Islanders.
The Islanders have moved on to a semifinal dinner date with the Halifax McDonalds after sweeping the Valley Wildcats three games straight in their Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League quarterfinal series.
The Islanders clinched the series win on Saturday at the Al MacInnis Sports Centre, beating the Wildcats 6-3.
The losers of all four quarterfinal series get to play for the King of Donair Cup – a new initiative by the league.
“We wanted nothing to do with that,” said Islanders assistant captain Colby Fleet, who scored two key goals early in Saturday’s victory.
“We hadn’t played the Valley in a long time and it was good getting the first two wins on the road. We got a little over-confident going up 3-0 and they got those two quick goals, but the coaches told us not to get down and keep playing our game,” Fleet said.
The Islanders took that 3-2 lead into the third period where Lex Watt scored his first of two goals to put the Islanders up 4-2. Fleet and Jack MacInnis assisted on what would be the game-winner.
“I took a shot and the puck and the rebound came to him and he just whipped it back,” said Fleet, who credited goaltender Jack Bell for the win, facing 39 shots.
“The Valley came out firing on all cylinders and Jack was great. He kept us in it and gave us the chance to win.”
The ice was tilted in the Valley’s favour for the first 10 minutes of the game, which included a four-minute powerplay, before a three-on-two rush saw defenceman Jonah Ellis score on a snapshot off the right wing to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 13:33. Hunter MacDonald and Kieran MacDonald picked up the assists.
The Islanders killed another penalty after the goal and 45 seconds after that Fleet scored at 17:45, picking up his own rebound on a play with Ryan Davidson and Watt.
The Islanders got a powerplay of their own at 4:08 of the second frame and Fleet snapped a shot from the left wing half-wall for a 3-0 lead. Sam Trenholm and Lance Heukshorst had the helpers.
The Valley took advantage of a defensive lapse and an odd-man rush to score a pair of goals 77 seconds apart.
With 1:18 left in the second period, Davidson was assessed a match penalty for a questionable check from behind and is out for three games. The player who was hit didn’t miss a shift.
After Watt’s goal to make it 4-2, the Valley got to within a goal again at 8:37, but that would be it for the visitors.
With time winding down, the Wildcats pulled their goalie at 18:39 for an extra attacker. However, Hunter MacDonald won a puck battle just outside the Islanders blueline and mailed an insurance goal into the empty net.
Watt sealed the deal with another empty-net goal that just beat the buzzer at 19:59.
Prior to the start of the game, league president Paul Graham presented league award to three members of the team.
Fleet received the President’s Trophy for most improved player.
Islanders coach Michael MacDonald was the league’s coach of the year.
In receiving the award, MacDonald said, “It’s nice to be recognized by the league and your peers, but in the end, that’s not we’re in it for. It’s all about the kids.”
And manager Darryl MacDonald was named team volunteer of the year.
The Islanders now have their work cut out for them when they start the best-of-seven semifinal series against the Macs.
Halifax was virtually unbeatable this season, posting a 32-1-1 record and winning all five meetings with the Islanders.
“We know it’s going to be a challenge but we’re up for it,” said Fleet.
Coach MacDonald agreed, adding, “The key for us will be to play patiently. Wait for them to make mistakes and pounce on them and to limit mistakes in our own end.”
The Macs swept their quarterfinal series against the Sydney Rush, outscoring them 25-3 in the three games.
“In my opinion, Halifax has not been battle tested in the playoffs yet,” said MacDonald.
“We’ve been there before (as underdogs) and there’s no pressure on us. We have the comfort of going in free and loose.”
The series gets underway this weekend at the Halifax Forum. Game one is Saturday at 7 p.m. and game two is Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
The series resumes the following weekend in Port Hood. Game three is set for Saturday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. and game four goes at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
If necessary, game five is in Halifax on Wednesday, Mar. 4; game six is at the Al MacInnis Sports Centre on Friday, Mar. 6, for an 8:30 p.m. start; and game seven is scheduled for Mar. 7 in Halifax.