BEDFORD, N.S. — Ben Mercer’s power-play goal in the third period proved to be the winner as Steele Subaru edged the Halifax McDonalds 3-1 to capture the major midget title at The Chronicle Herald East Coast IceJam Hockey Tournament on Sunday.
Sam Gallant iced the game with his second goal of the final with 44 seconds remaining in the third period in the game played at the BMO Centre. Kian Bell had assists on all three Steele goals.
Gallant staked Steele to a 1-0 lead in the first period while on the power play. Joey Henneberry evened the score at 1-1 with the McDonalds on the power play in the second period.
Goalie Noah Harvey picked up the win for the Dartmouth team. The teams also played in the 2016 final of the tournament with Dartmouth also coming out on top.
In semifinal action on Sunday morning, Henneberry and Zach Byard each had a goal and two assists in Halifax’s 9-1 victory over the Charlottetown Knights. Jacob Newcombe, Morgan Lake, Justin Hardie, Alex Ross, Hunter Benoit, Brandon Abbas and Leighton Carruthers also scored for Halifax. Gabe Hartlen had the Charlottetown goal.
Robbie Forbes collected the shutout as Steele blanked the Saint John Vitos 4-0 in the other semifinal game. Griffin Peers, with a pair, Ethan Wheeler and Camden Pellerine scored the goals for Steele.
Awards handed out on Saturday evening had South Shore’s Luke Woodworth being named the best first-year player. Jack Howatt (Charlottetown) was the best goalie, Jonathan Desrosier (Moncton) best defenceman and Josh Nadeau (Fredericton) best forward.
The first all-star team consisted of goalie Sebastian Lever (Halifax), defencemen Brayden Schmitt (Weeks) and Drew Maddigan (Halifax) and forwards Noah Gibbs (Fredericton), Samuel Savoie (Moncton) and Cameron MacLean (Charlottetown).
The second all-star team featured goalie William Forbes (NS Minor Midget), defencemen Coen Strang (Moncton) and Jeremie Thibodeau (Fredericton) and forwards (Leighton Carruthers (Halifax), Tanner Humber-Dredge (St. John’s) and Nicholas Moore (East Coast).
Major bantam
The Moncton Hawks scored three times in the first period to defend their title with a 5-1 victory over the Eastern Express.
Luke Patterson and Philippe Collette each potted a pair of goals for the Hawks while Kaden Evoy had the other. Evan Nicholson replied for the Express.
Moncton downed the Wear Well Bombers 7-3 in semifinal play. Justin Gendron scored three goals while Luke Patterson had a goal and three assists. Logan Crosby, Reese Smith and Cory MacGillivray had the goals for the New Glasgow team.
Caleb MacDonald, Harry Clements and Evan Nicholson tallied as the Express edged The Rangers in the other semifinal. Mitch Wagner and Blake Pilgrim scored for The Rangers.
Tyler Peddle (Novas) was named the best forward while Will Shield (Valley) was selected as the best first-year player. Drake Pattison (Saint John) was the best goalie while Harry Clements (Eastern PEI) was the best defenceman.
The first all-star team consisted of goalie Jack Milner (Novas), defencemen Jake MacDonald (Halifax) and Matteo Rotandi (St. John’s) and forwards Cam Squires (Central PEI), Brad Nadeau (Northwest) and Luke MacPhee (Cole Harbour).
Second-team all-stars were goalie Jorja Burrows (New Glasgow), defencemen Luke Coughlin (Central PEI) and Owen Phillips (TASA/Chebucto) and forwards Justin Gendron (Moncton), Colby Morin (Northwest) and Quinn Kennedy (TASA/Chebucto).
