WINDSOR, N.S. — The Avon River Rats will be looking for their big guns to come out strong as they gear up for the Nova Scotia Regional Junior Hockey League semi-final with the Eastern Shore Thunder.
The teams are set to open their playoff series with a pair of games — Feb. 17 (away) and Feb. 18 (at home at 7 p.m.).
On Feb. 24, Game 3 will be held at the Eastern Shore Community Centre, with Game 4 on Feb. 25 in Windsor at the Hants Exhibition Arena at 7 p.m.
The Rats will have to have Kyle Armsworthy, Justin MacLellan, Logan Cleveland and Alex King firing on all cylinders against a club that defeated the Rats in six of eight regular season games.
During the regular season, Armsworthy connected for 57 points to lead the team in scoring with 19 goals and 38 assists. Cleveland must continue to show his gift for goal scoring after registering 31 in the regular season. MacLellan and King, who scored 24 and 22 goals respectively for the River Rats, are also key point-getters for the team.
The River Rats allowed 4.30 goals per game this season in recording their 20 wins in 32 games. They will continue to rely heavily on Tyler Comeau, a 15-point man from the blue-line, as well as Tyler Lapierre, also a 15-point person from the blue-line, and newcomer Ean Killam.
If Games 5 and 6 are necessary in this series, they will be held March 3 in Eastern Shore and March 4 in Windsor.
