AMHERST, N.S. – The doors closed on another season of Amherst Adult Hockey League action on April 5, but not before Colson Overhead Doors beat J&K Electric 8-3 in Game 3 of their best-of-three championship series.
“It feels great,” said playoff scoring leader Ryan Smith. “We battled hard, it was a team effort, and we came out on top.”
Colson started the regulars season at, or near, the top of the league standings but dropped to third place by the end of the season. They punched their ticket to the finals after beating second-place Malty Sports 2-0 in their best-of-three semi-final series.
“We had a little bit of a struggle there towards the second half of the season and dropped in the standings but then we brought it back in the playoffs when it mattered most,” said Smith.
The AHHL just finished its seventh season in Amherst and Springhill, and Smith has won the regular-season scoring title for a majority of those season.
This year he was atop the point standings until Jon Tattrie surpassed him with a 12-point performance in the final game of the regular season.
“I think that might have lit a fire under me for the playoffs,” said Smith.
Smith finished in first place in the playoff point standings, scoring 12 goals and three assists in five games, which included scoring six goals in Game 2 in the championship series against J&K.
Smith says he’s had a fun year playing with Colson.
“It’s a great group of guys and the spirits were up going into the playoffs and everybody wanted to win, and I think that’s what contributed to us winning,” said Smith.
League volunteer, organizer, and player, Danny Small, was impressed with the play of Colson, and with Smith.
“Colson started off really good, and near the end of the regular season they kind of backed off a bit, but it was really good to see them play so well in the playoffs,” said Small, “And Ryan was fantastic for Colson all year long. He’s a very good player and he brought his A-game in the playoffs for sure.”
Small thanked the volunteers, the referees, the scorekeepers, and the sponsors, Colson Overhead Doors, J&K Electric, Maltby Sports, and Ultramar for helping make the AAHL a success.
“It’s really nice to have a league here in town and I definitely encourage players of all ages and skill levels come on out and have some fun,” said Small.
