AMHERST – The ARHS Vikings will be playing for their playoffs lives tonight when they host the Eastern Shore Schooners in the second game of their best-of-three NSSAF Division 2 hockey qualifier tonight at the Amherst Stadium.
Game time is 6 p.m.
The game comes after the Schooners defeated the Vikings 4-1 in what was a hard-hitting and rough affair in Musquodboit Valley on Tuesday.
Stephen Belyea scored the lone Viking goal.
“They came out hitting really hard and our guys got knocked off their game. The boys got a little frustrated with some non-calls,” Vikings’ coach Wayne MacKenzie said. “This is another game and we usually play pretty good in our own arena.”
MacKenzie said it will be important for his team to avoid being intimidated by the Schooners, who they’ve beaten on two previous occasions this season. He also said it’s important for the club to be more aggressive on the forecheck and get more pucks to the net.
With a win, the Vikings will force a deciding third game back in Musquodoboit Valley following the March Break. It will also give his players time to refocus and prepare for the finale.
The series winner will advance to the Division 2 championship tournament at the new Pictou Wellness Centre in New Glasgow in two weeks.
“I’m confident the boys will bounce back. We just have to play our game and stay away from the other stuff,” he said.
