SPRINGHILL – The Pictou Scotians earned a win on Friday night during the Cumberland County Blues’ home game. The Blues couldn’t seem to bring in the goals, giving the Scotians a 6-1 victory.
“We worked hard,” said Blues coach Rob McLure. “15 minutes in the first period, we held our own, it was an even-ended shot and then in the last five minutes in the first, we took a mental break and they got three goals.”
Lucas Eshelman, assisted by Nick Hodgson, scored the Scotians’ first goal with 2:54 left in the first period. Brad McEachern continued the Scotians’ lead, giving his team a second goal, assisted by Brandon Verge and Nick Morrin, with just over a minute to go. The Blues left the first period down three goals when, with only four seconds remaining, Nick Hodgson scored the third goal, assisted by Brandon Verge, on the power play.
“In the second we played, what I think was, an even game,” said McLure. “They only scored one.”
Entering the third period with a score of 4-0 for the Scotians, the teams battled for the puck with the period’s first goal only being scored with five minute remaining. The Scotians’ Brandon Verge, set up by Tim Robertson and Brad MacEachern, brought in his team’s fifth goal. Nick Hodgson, assisted by Lucas Eshelman and Bad MacEachern, with just under four minutes remaining in the game, scored the Scotians’ sixth goal.
With 1:56 remaining, the Blues managed to bring in their own goal, scored by Zac Black, assisted by Tyler Gould and Zach Anderson, on the power play.
“I’m happy that the boys worked hard in the second half of the game,” said McLure. “I’ll give the Scotians credit, they’re an older mature team and they played well. We’re just going to continue our growth but I am a little disappointed with how we started our game. We didn’t maintain our focus throughout the first period.”
The Blues only have a few more games left in order to gain a spot in the playoffs. McLure said he’d love to make the playoffs but he wants to leave the year with the team playing better and stronger for the next season.
They return to the ice next weekend with two games. The team will travel to Port Hawkesbury Friday night to play the Strait Pirates and play Sunday night against Antigonish.
jturner@amherstdaily.com
