Clare's Ryan Gallant, raising his arms in triumph after a goal on home ice, is expected to come up big in Friday's game against the Crunch. John DeMings photo
Lions and Crunch collide in Clare
Two banners on the line and a scoring record
By Jonathan Riley
DIGBY COURIER
NovaNewsNow.com
“This is going to be the best game of the regular season,” says Clare Lions general manager Francis Robichaud.
The Lions and the Harbour Crunch, the top two Junior C teams in Nova Scotia, will go head-to-head at the Universite Sainte Anne arena Friday night, Feb. 9 at 9:30 p.m.
Clare has locked up first place in the West but has only a slim one-point lead over the Crunch for first overall.
To be sure of winning the overall title, Clare needs three points from its last two games.
For the Crunch the game is even more important. They need two wins to clinch the league title.
“Our guys know how big and how nutty a game this is going to be,” says the Musquodoboit general manager and head coach Richard Patterson. “We need a point to seal first place in our division – Halifax and the Jets are breathing down our necks but we also want that league banner for our rink. We have two titles to take this weekend. This is big for our guys.”
Robichaud says he expects the rink to be packed.
“The fans are going to see the quickest game they’ve seen yet this year. Our rink is a bit smaller than the Eastern Shore rink so the pace will be very fast."
Robichaud does not expect a blow out.
“I imagine it will be a one-goal game. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it go into overtime. If one team wins by two, I’d be surprised.
“If we work hard and stick to the game plan, then we have a chance to win.”
Fans will also be watching to see if the Crunch’s starting right-winger, Kyle Hallett, will be the first player in Nova Scotia Junior C to reach the 50-goal mark. He has 48 goals heading into the weekend.
Hallett says he is looking forward to playing in Clare.
“I like a big crowd. It makes a world of difference. I get more pumped up, more adrenaline. It makes me play a lot better.”
Clare won the only previous match up for these two teams this year, 4-3 in Musquodoboit, in overtime on Jan. 26.
NovaNewsNow.com will have complete coverage including photos and possibly video from Friday’s game sometime early Saturday morning.
