Midget 'Cats endure two more losses

BY JOHN DECOSTE

The Advertiser/NovaNewsNow.com

What is beginning to look like a long winter for the Valley Sport Swapper Wildcats continued with two more losses -- 4-3 in overtime to Pictou County Weeks in New Glasgow Oct. 27 and 5-3 to Halifax McDonalds at the Halifax Forum Oct. 28.

The results, which spoiled a pair of decent efforts by the ’Cats, dropped Valley’s record to three wins, 11 losses and one overtime loss for seven points, eighth and last in the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League.

Saturday, Oct. 27, the Wildcats hung tough against Pictou County, one of three teams Valley had beaten this season, picking up a point for the tie score at the end of regulation time but dropping the final decision on Trent MacDonald’s power play goal in overtime.

Tyler Ross opened the scoring for Pictou County early in the first period, but Andrew Walker got the Wildcats on the board at the 17:59 mark.

Evan Brannon gave Weeks back the lead at 5:32 of the second, only to see Valley again claw back to tie the score on Colby Harris’s power play goal about five minutes later.

Matt Brown gave the ’Cats their first lead of the night at 14:52 of the third period, but Brannon’s power play goal, his second of the game, a little over a minute later at 15:56 knotted the score at three and forced overtime.

Pictou County’s second, third and fourth goals and Valley’s second marker were all scored with the man advantage. Weeks ended up with a 34-13 edge in shots on goal.

On Sunday in Halifax, the Wildcats again battled hard but this time ended up with no points to show for their effort.

Halifax, another team Valley had beaten this season, jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead on power play goals from Matthew Doudelet, Brock Knoll and Dylan King.

The Wildcats stormed back to tie the score in the second on a goal by Zack Rogerson and a pair of markers from Jay Titchmarsh, but Justin Keizer gave Halifax the lead for good late in the period. Brad Donaldson’s third period goal provided some insurance.

Halifax finished with a relatively narrow 39-31 edge in shots on goal which was an indication of the competitiveness of the game.