BROOKFIELD, N.S. – In a Fundy/Highland Bantam A Hockey League game Sunday afternoon at the Sportsplex in Brookfield, the Elks defeated Antigonish Bulldogs 4-1.
It wasan exciting, well played game, part of a great weekend for the third-place Elks (7-5-5-19 pts.) On Saturday, they edged the first place Bulldogs (11-5-4-26pts.) 3-0 in Antigonish.
“We’ve been playing real good hockey lately, Mitchell Whooten, 15, of Masstown, said. “Our players are working well together and we have real good team spirit. We are still holding out hopes of taking first place.”
Whooten, who scored two goals Sunday, had one goal in the game played in Antigonish. He described his team’s second goal at the Sportsplex.
“I swung in front of the net attempting a backhand shot, there was a lot of traffic so I switched to my forehand shot. I finally had a clear shot on the net, but, being checked, I didn’t actually see where the puck went. It did end up in
the net though, it was a goal.”
It was a beautiful goal by a rangy, young player who skates well, shoots well and has loads of hockey talent.
The game also featured brilliant goaltending by the Elks Michael Peters.
“I was really happy with the two weekend wins, Peters, 13 of Belmont, said. “Our guys skated really well, that was the big thing. And, we buried our chances around the net, that played an important part. We’re aiming at finishing in one of the two top spots in the league, when we get in the playoffs, whoever we play, I think we can step up.”
Peters, for a 13-year-old, is quite a goaltending prospect. He is very good with the pads, he positions himself well and he demonstrates very quick reflexes.
The Elks have a good system in getting the puck out of their own end and offensively, they pass the puck well, often finding a man in the open.
Coached by Mike Spencer, the team’s assistant coaches are Alex Peters, Paul Spence, Ben Stokdijk and Luke Smith.
Spencer, who has coached minor hockey for 10 years, said the coaching staff is all about the kids having fun and improving as they go along.
“I would be lying if I didn’t say our goal this year is to win our league championship, defeat the Cape Breton champion and win the Day of Champions,” he said. “We try to learn something every game and win or lose, keep improving as a team.”
The Pictou County Crushers are in second place in the Fundy/Highland league with 21 points, followed by the Truro Bearcats with eight points. The Elks have seven season games remaining before playoffs.
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Patrick Hazelton grew up in Bible Hill and began umpiring fastpitch ball as a member of the Fundy Region Umpire’s Association in 2004.
Flying out of Halifax today, Hazelton is travelling to New Zealand where he will umpire some high-calibre ball.
“This is my first tournament outside North America,” Hazelton said. “This is something I’ve been working towards for a long time, it’s a chance to see the world.
“I learned of this assignment Nov. 30, it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I’m looking forward to umpiring ball in 30 degree weather.”
Hazelton’s first stop will be next week in Auckland where he will umpire the Black Sox Trial Series, a two-day international event. Next, he will umpire the New Zealand
National Fastpitch Championship, men’s division. A full time business analyst with the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, Hazelton umpired in the 2017 USA Men’s Invitational Softball Championship in Ashland, Ohio. He also made the calls at the 2016 Canadian Senior Men’s Fastpitch Championship in St. Johns, N.L.
Hazelton umpires locally, provincially and in Eastern Canadian tournaments. He is part of a unique umpiring family. Leading the way was his grandfather, Don
Hazelton, who umpired for more than 50 years, his father Jeff umpired as did uncles Chris, David-John, Peter and Billy.
There are four Level 5 umpires in the Fundy region. Beside Hazelton, they are Clinton Harvey, Lou Davis and Darren Gerrior.
These umpires, selected by Softball Canada, will travel the world in 2018 handling assignments.
“My personal goal is to umpire in a world senior men’s tournament,” Hazelton said. “I’ll be eyeing that possibility during the next couple years.”
Lyle Carter's column appears Saturdays in the Truro Daily News. If you have a story idea, contact him at 902 673-2857.
