Host Pictou County Crushers Earn Berth
in Fred Page Cup Championship Final
Against Defending Champs Pembroke Lumber Kings

NEW GLASGOW, April 26, 2008.....The Pictou County Weeks Crushers are headed to the Eastern Canadian Junior “A” Championship game Sunday afternoon against the defending champs, Pembroke Lumber Kings.

The Crushers stepped it up with a gutsy performance as they earned their way to tomorrow’s Fred Page Cup final with a thrilling 4 – 2 win over the Yarmouth Mariners Saturday evening at the John Brother MacDonald Stadium in New Glasgow. Crushers Player of the Game Alexandre Quessy was stellar in the Weeks net, stopping the big guns from Yarmouth and centre Scott McManaman was on fire as the Weeks won their third straight game and second tournament win against the Maritime Junior A League Champions Mariners.  Tournament MVP Jordan Knox got things started as he turned on the jets, breaking into the Mariners zone and feeding McManaman who tipped the centering pass home at the 7:25 minute of the first period to beat goalie Dallas Ungurian.  Yarmouth battled back to even the score before the period ended on a goal by Itan Chavira with assists from Steve Pearson and Cody Lafrancois. Chavira struck again in the second period with helpers from Jordan Scott and Ryan Penney, to pull the Mariners ahead after two periods and it looked like the Mariners were poised to dominate.

The host team, however, had other ideas and dug deep to give it their all. The Crushers forecheck went to work in the third and the hard work paid off. Jason Rinzler, on a feed from Ryan Stoddard, banged home the tying goal six minutes into the final period. Both teams traded chances before the unrelenting McManaman corralled a loose puck behind the Mariner net and quickly zipped out front to knock the puck past a startled Ungurian, sending the crowd of over 1,000 into a frenzy with just over six minutes left in the game. The Crushers added an insurance marker on a power play as Stoddard made a great play bringing the puck out from the Yarmouth corner and deking Ungurian. For the 3^rd straight game the Crushers held their opponents without a goal in the third period and their explosive offence came alive. Also deserving credit was the strength of the Crushers penalty kill as the Pictou County squad killed off seven penalties and stalled the usually unstoppable Yarmouth power play. Most Valuable Player for Yarmouth was Chavira who lead the Mariners with a pair of goals.

Crushers Coach Troy Ryan was amazed at how his players responded with three top players out with injuries. “We were without Donnie Grant since the Truro series, Jevin MacLellan was hurt in last night’s game and Geoff Hum was injured early in tonight’s first period but everyone stepped up”. The coach had every reason to be proud of his players who are giving their fans some of the best hockey seen in Pictou County in years.

The hometown Pictou County Weeks Crushers will face the two-time, back to back Eastern Canadian Junior A Fred Page Cup Champions, Pembroke Lumber Kings at 2:00pm at the John Brother MacDonald Stadium.  Fans can expect an electric final as the hometown favourite Crushers face off against the powerful Lumber Kings.

Pictou County Weeks Crushers Notch 6-4 Win over Yarmouth Mariners;

NS Teams Advance to Semi-Final

Sherbrooke Edges Pembroke;

Pembroke Finishes First in Round Robin and Gets Bye to Championship Final

NEW GLASGOW, NS, April 25, 2008....In a preview of Saturday’s Fred Page Cup semi-final, the Pictou County Weeks Crushers met the Yarmouth Mariners Friday evening at the John Brother MacDonald Stadium in New Glasgow. Player of the Game for the hometown favourites, Jordan Knox, lead the way with two goals and two assists to power the Crushers to a 6 – 4 win in an entertaining contest that clinched 2^nd place for the Crushers in the round robin tournament. The Mariners got off to a quick two goal lead just minutes into the game on goals by Tyler Williams and Matt Duff before Crushers Coach Troy Ryan called a timeout. Ryan’s strategy paid off as Knox chipped one over Mariner goalie Jocelyn Moirrissette to pull the Crushers within one after 20 minutes of play.

The second period saw the locals firing on all cylinders as they pumped in three goals in a minute to the pleasure of the large hometown crowd. Goal scorers were Jason Rinzler, Andrew Joudrey and Andrew Paquet. Mariner coach Steve Kasper then called his own timeout and his team knotted the game 4-4 on the strength of two power play goals by Itan Chavira and Cody Lefrancois.  Rinzler, Game 2 Player of the Game for the Crushers, has scored key goals all spring and delivered again at the 6:19 mark of the third period after Moirrissette made a great save.  In the ensuing scramble Rinzler picked up a loose puck and banged home what proved to be the winning goal. For the rest of the third period the Crushers kept the Mariners sharp shooters at bay with tenacious checking and sound positional play. With their goalie on the bench for an extra attacker, the Mariners pressed to tie the score only to see Knox find the empty net with just over a minute left. Player of the Game for Yarmouth was big defensemen Alexandre Soucy. Goalie Alexandre Quessy of the Crushers played a strong game with 31 saves.

In the opening game of the day, Sherbrooke Cougars broke into the win column with a 2 – 1 win over first place Pembroke Lumber Kings. Goal scorers for the Cougars were Patrick Belzile and Louis-Alex Nadeau with Brandon Richardson replying for Pembroke. Player of the Game for the Cougars was Simon Demers and Pembroke’s top player of the game honours went to Mike Santee. The Lumber Kings, last year’s Fred Page Cup champs and first place finishers in the round robin, will now rest up for Sunday’s championship final as they await the winner of Saturday night’s semi-final.

The Fred Page Cup Tournament Committee also announced free admission to all children under 10 for the remaining Saturday and Sunday tournament games. Wade Taylor of the Weeks Hockey Organization and Co-Chair of the Fred Page Cup, said the gesture was in recognition of the tournament volunteers as well as minor hockey throughout Pictou County.

Rinzler Hat Trick Leads Pictou County Crushers
to Victory Over Sherbrooke Cougars

Pembroke Beats Yarmouth in Overtime

NEW GLASGOW, NS, April 24, 2008......The Pictou County Junior “A” Crushers exploded for four goal s in the third period en route to a 6–2 win over the Sherbrooke Cougars in Fred Page Cup action on Thursday night at the John Brother MacDonald Stadium in New Glasgow.  Crushers Player of the Game Jason Rinzler fired a hat trick to lead the home team’s attack. The teams were locked in a close tight checking game through two periods. Rinzler fired the game’s first two goals, the second on a beautiful solo effort as he split the Cougar defence before deking goalie Alexandre Dubois. The Cougars battled back with a goal by Patrick Belzile and then on a second period power play, Belzile tipped home the tying goal. Both teams battled hard but neither team could muster any sustained pressure. The Crushers came out roaring to start the third and Rinzler had his hat trick as he roofed one by Dubois 12 seconds into the period.  The locals kept the pressure on and were rewarded with goals by Andrew Joudrey and Geoff Hum both tipping home point shots. Andrew Paquet broke in alone late in the third period and hit the mark with a top shelf blast to complete the scoring. Crusher goalie Alexandre Quessy made some key saves, especially with the score 4 – 2 and the Cougars desperately trying to close the gap.  Player of the Game for the Cougars, now winless in two games, was Alexandre Gagnon. The Quebec team’s tournament play will end this afternoon against Pembroke. Sherbrooke Coach Jude Vallee said his team had some chances but couldn’t score on the power play and that cost them.

The Crushers played a much more disciplined game than their first game Wednesday as they only took four penalties compared to the 12 they received in the loss to Pembroke. Another key to their win was the power play, which clicked for three goals. Friday night sees the Crushers meet League foe Yarmouth Mariners in what should be a repeat of the fast gritty series the two teams battled through three weeks ago. Both teams are one and one.

In Thursday’s early game the fans were treated to some overtime action as the Pembroke Lumber Kings notched the winner in a tough 3-2 win over the Mariners.  Mike Santee was the overtime hero lifting the Lumber Kings to the top of the standings with a perfect 2-0 record. Player of the Game for the Lumber Kings was Brandon Richardson and for Yarmouth Alexandre Soucy took home the honours. 

Coach Ryan said after the opener with Pembroke his team shook out the cobwebs of a long layoff and that he will be looking to the team’s fire power such as Knox and Rinzler to push for that extra effort. “What more could you want than two Nova Scotia teams in the semi-finals and to be hosting the event.”

It is no doubt the semi-final will also be a barn-burner and bring out many Mariner and Crushers fans.

Fred Page Cup Opens with Pembroke and
Yarmouth Notching Wins