SPRINGHILL - A hockey team with 19 wins in a row has few factors working against them, and that is definitely the case with the Cumberland County Blues as they travel to play two games in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League this weekend.
They have four players in the top 10 list in league scoring - Cody Roach with 62, Ryan Smith with 49, Seth Crowe with 47 and Ryan Oakley, who was recently acquired from the Glace Bay Miners, with 36.
They also have the top-rated goaltender in the league in Andrew Court, who has a 2.30 goals-against average.
"We have a lot of depth on our team, that's for sure," Roach said. "So that's a huge factor in our success."
But if the Blues do have any weakness in their armour, this weekend might be the time to expose it.
Coach Dave Hyatt said that the Blues developed several bad habits during their three-game homestand against the last-place Glace Bay Miners last weekend and wanted those bad habits cleared up during Wednesday night's practice.
There was only one problem with that scenario. The snowstorm on Wednesday shut down Richard Calder Arena, preventing the Blues from doing so.
As a result, the team could be a little rusty when it steps on the ice tonight against the Strait Pirates in Port Hawkesbury.
Roach isn't fretting over the lack of tough game play.
"It's not a concern," Roach said. "It's not going to be a factor once we get on the ice and start to play. We know they're going to be two tough games for sure. We know what we're up against."
The last time the Blues played the Pirates was Dec. 4 and it was a close-fought battle, which the Blues won 3-1.
The Pirates are in a battle for third and fourth place in the Sid Rowe Division with the Antigonish Bulldogs.
On Wednesday, night the Bulldogs held off the Pirates 5-4.
On Sunday, the Blues travel to Antigonish to take on the other half of that playoff race.
The Blues and Bulldogs met in a home-and-home series earlier this month, with the Blues winning both games by scores of 5-1 and 6-3.
Roach wants his team to come home with a 21 wins in a row.
"We definitely want to keep the streak going as long as possible," he said.
Both games begin at 7:30 p.m. The Blues return home to host the Pirates on Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
dmathieson@amherstdaily.com
Blues chasing 20th straight victory
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Published on
January 22, 2010
- Published on February 24, 2010
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Dave Mathieson
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Comments
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- Vince
- - February 25, 2010 at 00:46:07
Best of luck to the Blues in their quest for 21 straight wins. Give it your best shot.
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- Genghis Khan
- - February 25, 2010 at 00:45:56
The reason they were playing pond hockey is because they were up against the last place team in the league.
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- Hockey fan
- - February 25, 2010 at 00:45:54
After watching the game in Amherst played by the Blues I wonder if all teams in the league play the same way - no checking , no hitting , no passing - just try and skate through the entire other team , every player wanted to score which is great but the puck hogs were embarrassing to watch after the first , a lot of people left saying this is pond hockey , this is a very selfish team and will not will any games against a real hockey team -
