Posted By: admin

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

 

 

MONCTON, NB, April 28, 2013 The Kensington Vipers defeated the Sackville Blazers 4-3, in the Championship game of the Don Johnson Memorial Cup, the Atlantic Junior B Championship, being held at the Red Ball Internet Center in Moncton NB.

Sackville looked to avenge the 6-1 thrashing they received at the hands of Kensington during the round robin portion of the tournament. That didn't seem a reality as the Blazers fell behind by a pair of goals early in the first period.

Kensington forward Isaac Jay, parked to the left of the Blazers goal, buried the rebound off of the Drew Coulson left point shot past Blazers goalie Brennan Laite. Kyle Doucette also earned an assist on the games opening tally. 

Doucette picked up his second assist of the period, as he streaked down the left side on a 2 on 1. Doucette saucered a pass over the sprawled out Blazers defender, right onto the stick of teammate Matt Stead. Stead made no mistake and redirected the pass past goalie Brennan Laite.

On the strength of a man advantage, the Blazers finally beat Vipers netminder Grant Grady. Ryan Davis took the Brett Arthur pass, emerged from the right corner and blasted a shot from the right faceoff dot that cleanly beat goalie Grady. Both goaltenders are dialed in, turning aside many dangerous scoring chances, keeping the score at 2-1 for Kensington after 20 minutes.

Sackville outshoot Kensington 8-6 in the opening period.

Sackville emerged from the intermission, firing on all cylinders, peppering goalie Grady with numerous shots early in the frame. Grady was equal to the challenge and kept his team up by one. 

The Blazers were forced to play short staffed for the remainder of the game, when forward Aaron MacDonald was assessed a checking from behind penalty just over four minutes into the second stanza.

Kensington increased their lead to two goals, as goalie Laite only managed to get a piece of the Brett Hogan shot from the bottom of the left face off dot. Spencer Montgomery and Adam Wight earned assists on the play. Montgomery sent in alone on a breakaway, beat goalie Laite's low blocker, increasing the Kensington lead to three.

Kensington outshot Sackville 18-16 in the middle frame.

The Blazers refused to have their season end without a Championship, and pressed hard in the final period, outshooting the Vipers 15-5.

The Blazers started crowding the crease, getting traffic in front of goalie Grady, making it difficult for him to track the shots. Blazers forward Andrew Skinner cut the Vipers lead to two, as he fired the Zachary Thomas pass past Grady, while on the man advantage at almost the half way point of the period.

Just 46 seconds later, Blazers forward Justin Hessian's point shot found its way through the traffic, beating goalie Grady, cutting the Vipers lead to one. Andrew Skinner drew the only assist on the scoring play.

The Blazers pulled goalie Laite in the games final minute and stormed the Vipers goal. But the Vipers and goalie Grady withstood the barrage and went on to claim the Don Johnson Memorial Cup Championship.

Vipers netminder Grant Grady earned the win in goal, kicking out 35 of 39 shots he faced. Brennan Laite suffered the loss in goal for the Blazers turning aside 24 of 29 shots sent his way.

Grant Grady was named the Kensington player of the game, while Ryan Davis earned the honors for Sackville. Kensington forward Isaac Jay was named the game MVP.