Major Bantams Crushers on a roll

NEW GLASGOW – The Scotsburn Crushers hope they can keep their momentum going as they prepare for the 2012 Pictou County Memorial Bantam Hockey Tournament.
Crushers coach Richard White says the tournament is an opportunity for the team to get ready for the league playoffs.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to get some confidence and work on some things for the playoffs,” he said. “We’re ready for it.”
The Crushers captured the 2012 SPUD tournament in Charlottetown, P.E.I. in stunning fashion Feb. 5 by defeating the Western Hurricanes 3-2 on a goal by Blair Dewtie in triple overtime in the championship game.
The win was significant for the Crushers, who are in last place in the Nova Scotia Major Bantam Hockey League, while the Hurricanes lead the 12-team standings.
After falling behind 1-0 in the second period, the Crushers struck twice with goals from Jacob Pentz and Taylor Publicover to take a 2-1 lead.
The Hurricanes forced overtime when they scored with just 22 seconds left in the third period after they pulled their goaltender with a minute remaining.
The first five-minute overtime period consisted of four skaters on each side and solved nothing, forcing a second overtime with three skaters each.
The third overtime was 2-on-2 hockey where Dewtie batted home his own rebound for the winning goal.
Crushers’ goaltender Tanner Doiron was named the tournament’s most valuable player, while fellow goaltender Connor Hoeg was also solid, posting two shutouts in his two starts.
The Crushers allowed just one goal in the round-robin games they won and took second seed into the quarter-finals.
Doiron got the win as the Crushers outscored the Truro Bearcats 4-2. He was also in goal as the Crushers won their semifinal match by edging the TASA Bubba Ray Gulls 3-2.
The Crushers played just one of their scheduled weekend games, a 4-1 loss to the Pro Hockey Life Harbour Storm in Cole Harbour Saturday. Craig P. Murray scored a shorthanded goal late in the third period for the Crushers.
Sunday’s game in Truro was postponed due to the weekend storm.

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