QUINTE WEST, ONT. - The Maritime Hockey League’s Team Eastlink split their opening games of the Eastern Canada Cup Challenge being held in Quinte West, Ont.
The eastern squad, with the Truro Bearcats’ Shawn Evans as head coach, opened Monday with a 5-1 loss to Team CCHL White.
The team bounced back Tuesday, in their first of two games, with a 2-1 victory over Team LHJQ St. Louis.
Monday, against Team CCHL White, the MHL’s lone goal came off the stick of Truro Bearcat forward Campbell Pickard at the 6:49 mark of the first period. Pickard’s Bearcat teammate, Dylan Burton, earned the lone assist on the play.
Francis Asselin of the Edmunston Blizzard made 11 saves for the MHL, in the 40-minute contest.
Against Team LHJQ St. Louis, Pickard and Burton again figured in the scoring, as they assisted on a power-play goal by Matt Barron of the Yarmouth Mariners that proved to be the winner.
Barron’s goal came just 13 seconds after Jordan King of the Amherst Ramblers opened the scoring, also with the man advantage, from Francois Thibeault (Campbellton Tigers) and Logan Johnston (Blizzard).
Anthony Imbealt had the lone reply for Team LHJQ St. Louis.
Jacob Stewart of the Valley Wildcats stopped nine of 10 shots in the contest.
Later Tuesday, the MHL squad took on Team OJHL Oates. Results were unavailable at presstime.
The final round-robin portion of the tournament, which will see the MHL face Team OJHL Nieuwendyk at 11 a.m. Atlantic, as well as all playoff games, will take place today (Wednesday).
