Blues Sweep Weekend Series

In rare Sunday action, the Glace Bay Jr. Miners dropped another close decision on the wrong end to the Cumberland County Blues at the Bayplex in Glace Bay.

 The Miners once again jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first with Scott Sampson firing a laser from the blue line 38 seconds into the game from Mitch Carabin and Jordan Langlois. The Miners picked up their second goal at 14:28 on an unassisted marker by Mitch Carabin, but the lead was short lived as David Burke struck at 11:07 in the first frame on a goal assisted by Zach Carson and Justin Landry. The “#7,#8,#9” trio struck for the Blues at 5:52 as “#9” David Burke converted his second of the game from “7” Geoff Burke and “#8” Zach Carson which knotted the game up even at the end of 20 minutes of play. The Blues outshot the Miners 16-14.

Not much was to be said for the Miners in the second period. Showing many scoring chances but no luck in the finishing processes as they were shut out for the second period; however the Blues jumped on a Miners penalty and scored the only goal of the period at 17:05. Scoring for the Blues was Matt Noiles assisted by Zach Carson and Jesse Colborne. The Blues once again outshot the Miners in that period 13 – 10.

With a 3-2 lead heading into the third, the Miners looked to make a comeback on the Blues in the third frame. But it was the Blues who struck first at 17:56 on an unassisted marker by Geoff Burke. David Burke netted his hat trick goal on a penalty kill from Justin Landry making it 5-2. But the Miners did not give up, at 5:58 in the period, RJ Barrett scored on goaltender Nathan Kelly after being able to get loose of Blues forward Seth Crowe in front of the net making the game 5-3. But another shorthanded goal at 57 seconds of the game from Jeff Deruelle put salt in the wound of the Miners. The Miners outshot the Blues in the third 18 to 13 giving a game total for the Miners of 42 which the Blues had the amount at the end of the tilt.

The Glace Bay Miners (7-16-0-2) now rest 3 points ahead of the Pictou County Scotians for fourth place in the Sid Rowe Division while the Cumberland County Blues (18-5-0-2) take first place in the Sid Rowe Division ahead of the Strait Pirates. The Miners next home game will be Saturday February 29th against off-island rivals the Antigonish Bulldogs who still sit 2 points ahead of the Miners. Puck drops at 7:45 pm, be sure not to miss this great action of Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League!

Submitted by Liam Flannigan