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Bulldogs Continue Strong Play
2019-10-30
Bulldogs Assistant Captain Andrew Boyle chases down the puck in the opposition zone during NSJHL Action at the Antigonish Arena (photo courtesy of Richard MacKenzie of the Casket Newspaper).
Bulldogs Maintain Solid Pace - Improve Record to 6 Wins and 2 Losses.
Weeks 4 and 5 of the 2018-19 NSJHL Regular Season had the Antigonish Bulldogs playing their first games against division rivals the Cumberland Blues and the Kameron Junior Miners, and facing perennial Fred Fox heavyweights the East Hants Penguins. “We came into the weekend identifying the areas where, as a team, we need to improve, and made it a goal to focus on those areas and hopefully come away with four points,” said the Dogs Head Coach Donnie Grant.
At the Igloo in East Hants, the Dogs started strong and dominated the early play, forcing the Penguins into a number of costly turnovers and an early penalty, and staked out a quick 4-1 lead by the end of the first period. The Dogs took a number of penalties in the second and third but held on to defeat the powerful Penguins by a score of 6-4. Two Dogs had four-point nights – Cory MacLellan (2nd Year, Antigonish) with two goals and two assists, and Fearghus MacDonald (2nd Year, Antigonish) posted a shorthanded marker and added three helpers. Ryan Kennedy (3rd year, Antigonish) and Sam Matte (1st year, Rockland ON) added two goals and 1 goal, respectively, with one of Kennedy’s goals being the second shorthanded goal of the night for the Dogs. Rounding out the Dog’s scoring were Spencer Barron (2nd year, Country Harbour), Andrew Boyle (4th year, Antigonish), Connor MacEachern (1st Year, Ottawa), Ryan Bakker (4th year, Truro), Dylan MacDonald (1st Year Sherbrooke), and Sam Legere (q2st Year, Halifax) each added single helps. Cody MacEachern was superb in the pipes for the Dogs and thwarted the Pens on a number of power play chances to secure the win.
On Sunday, the Dogs entertained the Kameron Junior Miners for the first of four games against their division rivals. In a game where you literally couldn’t look away without a lead change taking place, the Dogs ended up on the wrong end of a 7-6 score. Spencer Barron had a five point in the loss (2G, 3A), while Cory MacLellan Added three helpers. Jake MacDonald (2nd year, Sydney) and Zach Forsythe (2nd Year, Coldbrook) each added two goals, while Jack Nielsen (1st Year, Calgary) and Ryan Kennedy finished off the scoring with two assists and one assist, respectively. Cody MacEachern made a number of excellent saves but could not hold off the Miners, potent attack to suffer his first loss in the Dogs Uniform.
The next Friday, the Dogs were in the comfy confines of the Pound for the first of four games against division rivals Cumberland Blues. The Blues played a very gritty game against the Dogs, with the Blues goalie making a number of highlight reel saves; however, the Dogs eventually prevailed in a 4-0 win. Pacing the Dogs attack were Jake MacDonald and Jack Nielsen with a goal and an assist each. Fearghus MacDonald and Spencer Barron each added a goal, while Dylan MacDonald, Sam Mattie and Scott Chiasson (1st year, Antigonish) each added an assist. Jared Green was solid in the pipes for the Dogs, picking up his first win in the Dogs cage this season with a 25 save shutout.
On Sunday October 20, the Dogs made the trip to Trenton to take on arch-rival Scotians, and skated to a 6-2 win. Kurt MacLaughlin powered the Dogs attack with a goal and two assists. Matt Melanson (1st year, Truro) added a goal and an assist, while Fearghus MacDonald, Jake MacDonald, Ryan Bakker, and Sam Legere each added a goal. Jacob Nobbe (3rd year, Halifax) Spencer Barron, Jagger Statton (2nd year, Bridgewater), and Scott Chiasson rounded out the scoring with an assist each. Cody MacEachern was solid in nets for the win.
“We again had our ups and downs over the two weekends,” said Coach Grant, “but the biggest takeaway was the fact that we went to the net hard, we generated chances . Of course, sometimes you get rewarded, and sometimes you don’t, but as a team, I liked what we brought to the table offensively in those games. On the defensive side of the puck, we need to be more consistent. When we didn't skate hard to retrieve loose pucks, we got burned, and the boys know that they have to play hard to be successful. I think we are figuring out that we will have success if we continue to be aggressive around the net and forecheck hard, and play a strong, steady game defensively.”
The Dogs have an away game against the Cumberland Blues on Friday, October 25 and entertain the Cole Harbour Colts on Sunday, October 27h at the Pound, with the puck set to drop at 7:30 PM. It will be a great game, so please come out and show your support!!
“GO DOGS GO!!!!”
At the Igloo in East Hants, the Dogs started strong and dominated the early play, forcing the Penguins into a number of costly turnovers and an early penalty, and staked out a quick 4-1 lead by the end of the first period. The Dogs took a number of penalties in the second and third but held on to defeat the powerful Penguins by a score of 6-4. Two Dogs had four-point nights – Cory MacLellan (2nd Year, Antigonish) with two goals and two assists, and Fearghus MacDonald (2nd Year, Antigonish) posted a shorthanded marker and added three helpers. Ryan Kennedy (3rd year, Antigonish) and Sam Matte (1st year, Rockland ON) added two goals and 1 goal, respectively, with one of Kennedy’s goals being the second shorthanded goal of the night for the Dogs. Rounding out the Dog’s scoring were Spencer Barron (2nd year, Country Harbour), Andrew Boyle (4th year, Antigonish), Connor MacEachern (1st Year, Ottawa), Ryan Bakker (4th year, Truro), Dylan MacDonald (1st Year Sherbrooke), and Sam Legere (q2st Year, Halifax) each added single helps. Cody MacEachern was superb in the pipes for the Dogs and thwarted the Pens on a number of power play chances to secure the win.
On Sunday, the Dogs entertained the Kameron Junior Miners for the first of four games against their division rivals. In a game where you literally couldn’t look away without a lead change taking place, the Dogs ended up on the wrong end of a 7-6 score. Spencer Barron had a five point in the loss (2G, 3A), while Cory MacLellan Added three helpers. Jake MacDonald (2nd year, Sydney) and Zach Forsythe (2nd Year, Coldbrook) each added two goals, while Jack Nielsen (1st Year, Calgary) and Ryan Kennedy finished off the scoring with two assists and one assist, respectively. Cody MacEachern made a number of excellent saves but could not hold off the Miners, potent attack to suffer his first loss in the Dogs Uniform.
The next Friday, the Dogs were in the comfy confines of the Pound for the first of four games against division rivals Cumberland Blues. The Blues played a very gritty game against the Dogs, with the Blues goalie making a number of highlight reel saves; however, the Dogs eventually prevailed in a 4-0 win. Pacing the Dogs attack were Jake MacDonald and Jack Nielsen with a goal and an assist each. Fearghus MacDonald and Spencer Barron each added a goal, while Dylan MacDonald, Sam Mattie and Scott Chiasson (1st year, Antigonish) each added an assist. Jared Green was solid in the pipes for the Dogs, picking up his first win in the Dogs cage this season with a 25 save shutout.
On Sunday October 20, the Dogs made the trip to Trenton to take on arch-rival Scotians, and skated to a 6-2 win. Kurt MacLaughlin powered the Dogs attack with a goal and two assists. Matt Melanson (1st year, Truro) added a goal and an assist, while Fearghus MacDonald, Jake MacDonald, Ryan Bakker, and Sam Legere each added a goal. Jacob Nobbe (3rd year, Halifax) Spencer Barron, Jagger Statton (2nd year, Bridgewater), and Scott Chiasson rounded out the scoring with an assist each. Cody MacEachern was solid in nets for the win.
“We again had our ups and downs over the two weekends,” said Coach Grant, “but the biggest takeaway was the fact that we went to the net hard, we generated chances . Of course, sometimes you get rewarded, and sometimes you don’t, but as a team, I liked what we brought to the table offensively in those games. On the defensive side of the puck, we need to be more consistent. When we didn't skate hard to retrieve loose pucks, we got burned, and the boys know that they have to play hard to be successful. I think we are figuring out that we will have success if we continue to be aggressive around the net and forecheck hard, and play a strong, steady game defensively.”
The Dogs have an away game against the Cumberland Blues on Friday, October 25 and entertain the Cole Harbour Colts on Sunday, October 27h at the Pound, with the puck set to drop at 7:30 PM. It will be a great game, so please come out and show your support!!
“GO DOGS GO!!!!”