Pictou goaltender Jared Sorhaindo was caught going to his bench for an extra attacker with 1:14 left in the game when an Islanders’ two-on-one developed with Will Chisholm setting up Barrett Campbell for an easy goal past the sliding goalie in the Cape Breton West Islanders 4-2 win on Saturday.
October 2, 2024
-by Bill Dunphy
A weekend sweep was an overtime goal away for the Cape Breton West Islanders who turned in two solid games in a split with the Pictou County Weeks.
The Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League set began on Saturday with the Islanders putting the Weeks away in a 4-2 win.
Pictou had an early push in the game, outshooting the Islanders 7-3 and having the only powerplay but unable to solve Cape Breton West goaltender Jake Poirier.
The Islanders turned the tables on Pictou in the second frame, outshooting them 9-5, but more importantly, outscoring them 3-1.
Campbell Barrett opened the scoring at 2:25. With the Weeks penned in their own end, Will Chisholm and Owen Bell kept the puck moving deep in the zone with Barrett finally putting the puck past Jared Sorhaindo on the short side.
A puck battle behind Sorhaindo saw Cooper MacNeil take a pass to the left circle dot, one-timing it home for a 2-0 lead. Mathieu Delaney and Bell had the helpers.
Three minutes later, defenceman Trent Stewart unloaded on a shot from just inside the blueline which ended up being tipped high into the net off a Pictou stick. Bell had his third assist of the game on the goal with Lance Heukshorst also picking up a point.
Pictou scored a powerplay goal at 14:41 to make it a 3-1 game at the end of 40 minutes.
Islander penalties proved costly again in the third period when Pictou scored another powerplay goal at 12:53 to make the game interesting.
With the clock winding down, Pictou attempted to pull Sorhaindo with just over a minute remaining. While skating to the bench, MacNeil sprung Will Chisholm and Barrett loose on a two-on-one. As Sorhaindo scrambled to get back into his net, Chisholm fed Barrett with a pass to the open side and he made no mistake popping it into the top of the net at 18:46 to make it a 4-2 final.
Sunday’s game got off to a similar start with a scoreless first period followed by another push by Pictou, who outshot the Islander 14-6 in the frame and 36-22 overall.
However, Jack Bell was strong in the Islanders goal, allowing just one goal in regulation, coming at 9:52 of the second period.
Carson MacEachern got it back for Cape Breton West at 15:41 on a play with Sam Trenholm and Heukshorst.
In the five minute three-on-three overtime, Pictou had the only shots, getting their third one past Bell at 2:42 for the 2-1 win.
The Islanders next go on an extended period of road games. They are on the South Shore this weekend for two games against the Mustangs. On Oct. 18 and 19 they are the Pictou County Wellness Centre for two New Brunswick/P.E.I. crossover games, one against the Northern Moose and the other against the Fredericton Caps.
On Oct. 26, the Islanders are in Membertou for a 7 p.m. game against the Sydney Rush. And on Oct. 27 it’s back home to the Al MacInnis Sports Centre for a 1 p.m. return match with the Rush.
.
.
.
