SPRINGHILL – The Cumberland County Blues host the Brookfield Elks Friday night, a team they beat 3-2 last Thursday in Brookfield.
“We feel good going into Friday’s game against Brookfield but anything can happen,” said Blues coach Phil Lynds. “We’re a very young team but we got some players back, which is definitely going to help us.”
Blues captain Keegan Marcott returned last Friday at home against the Privateers after a three game suspension, and on Sunday against the Pictou County Scotians Brody Deegan and Madison Colford returned to the Blues roster for the first time since last season.
“Having those three players back is definitely going to going to make a big difference for us when we play Brookfield again on Friday,” said Lynds.
Goaltender Pierrick Heudes will get the start against Brookfield, after Trent Wilkie received a six-game suspension during Sunday’s game against Pictou.
“Wilkie has done a great job, unfortunately for him a little skirmish happened at the end of the game and he got a six-game suspension,” said Lynds. “He’s going to be missed but we’re very fortunate to have a back up like Pierrick who was a first-team all-star last year.”
The Blues practiced Wednesday night.
“The forwards were doing a lot of power play and breakout drills,” said Lynds. “And the defencemen were with me doing a lot of coverage and up-the-ice quick drills.”
Blues Scoring Leaders
Chad Miller and Alex Griffiths, both from Springhill, currently lead he Blues in points.
Miller has three goals and four assists in seven games.
“Chad is a firecracker who brings a lot to our team,” said Lynds. “He’s been here three years and he takes a lot of abuse but the guys look up to him because of what he can do with his size.”
Alex Griffiths is second on the Blues point board with five goals in seven games.
“Alex is a talented young man with a bright future,” said Lynds. “He’s a natural with the puck, he has a quick release and he drives hard to the net. He learned his lessons well last year with the (Junior C) Colts.”
Lynds is he’s really pleased with the crowds coming out to the Richard Calder arena each week, and says the Blues will only get better as the season progresses.
“They’re starting to turn the corner and coming around and they’re going to be a good team,” said Lynds. “We just have to give them a bit of time and some growing pains but we expect them to keep improving each week, and we saw it last week. Thursday, Friday and Sunday, there was a definite improvement each game.”
Friday’s game starts at 7:30 p.m.
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