WINDSOR, N.S. — The Avon View Avalanche’s boys’ hockey team had an easy time clobbering the Middleton Monarchs 14-1 in their most recent Valley High School Hockey League game on Feb. 3 in Windsor. But, even with the two points, the team is beginning to realize how difficult it is going to be to clinch the wildcard position in order to make the league playoffs.
As it stands now, the Avalanche trail the Central Kings Gators by a single point in the wild-card race. The Avalanche are tied with the Parkview Panthers at 19 points while leading Northeast Kings by a single point and the Par en Bas Sharks by three points.
It will be a race to the wire as all contending teams have between four and six games remaining in their regular season.
The Avalanche and Central Kings had a critical game in Berwick postponed on Feb. 2 due to the AVRSB cancelling school for the day because of the flash freeze warning.
The only game played by the Avalanche the week of Feb. 2-3 was their mauling of the Monarchs, in which they held outstanding period leads of 9-0 and 11-0.
Liam Parker had a spectacular night scoring four goals and adding two assists for the Avalanche while Keegan Turnbull set up five of his team's 14 goals. Jacob Caldwell contributed a hat-trick while Will Caines connected for a pair with single goals going to Hayden Burgess, Blake Rogers, who also collected three assists, Liev Ryan, Dan Lord and Julian Coldwell-Wile.
The Avalanche are currently in Newfoundland playing in the Confederation Cup High School Hockey Tournament. The tournament is slated to run from Feb. 7-11.
They will return to regular league action with a game in Barrington against the 12-2-0 Barons on Feb. 16 and then return home Feb. 17 for a 7 p.m. start against the 13-1-0-1 Horton Griffins.
The Barons and Griffins both hold down first place in their respective West and East Divisions of the Valley High School Boys Hockey League.
The final scheduled game for the Avalanche is an away game Feb. 24 against the Park View Panthers.
