WINDSOR, N.S. — With sensational goaltending from Joe MacDonald, the Avon View Avalanche's boys' hockey team defeated the Lockview High Dragons 2-1 Nov. 3 to take over top place in the Howard Dill Division of the 26th Annual Birthplace of Hockey High School Tournament.
Each game is worth five points and the top two teams in both the Howard Dill Division and Chook Smith Division will advance to the semi-finals at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Nov. 4. The games are being held at the Hants Exhibition Arena.
After day two of the tournament, the Avalanche are in first place with 6.5 points followed by Harrison Trimble of Moncton, N.B. with four points.
Friday afternoon's game against Lockview was an exhilarating one with end-to-end hockey that required exceptional goaltending, wide-open passing and even some stiff body checks.
The only goal to get past MacDonald in the Avon View nets was a bad hop, which skipped past him unexpectedly in the first period.
MacDonald was chosen MVP of the game for the Avalanche.
With 4:43 to play in the opening period, the Avalanche, with tremendous hustle, tied the game at 1-1 as Jacob Caldwell pounced on a puck in front of the Lockview net and drove it home.
There was no scoring in the second period with both teams missing some great chances. In the third period, Ethan Salsman, on a pass from Hayden Burgess and Jeremy Davidson, took a shot to the left of the Lockview net, making it 2-1. That proved to be the game winner.
In absolutely thrilling fashion, the Avalanche rallied from two goals down Thursday night in the opening game of the 26th Annual Birthplace of Hockey High School Tournament to tie the Sir. John A. MacDonald Flames 4-4.
Hayden Burgess, who stayed with the puck after two Avalanche players collided inside the Flames blue line, showed great tenacity as he scored unassisted with only 4:41 left to bring the Avalanche to within a goal at 4-3.
With only 2:53 showing on the clock, Jacob Caldwell, who was chosen the Game MVP for the Avalanche, fought hard for the puck behind the Flames net and shot it out and ended up in the opposition net for the tying goal. For Caldwell, it was his second goal of the night as he had put the Avalanche up 1-0 in the first period on a great show of hustle and determination with Will Caines and Blake Rogers. Caines added the fourth Avalanche goal.
Sir John A. MacDonald High is in third place in the Dill Division with 3.5 points while Lockview is fourth with a single point.
Millwood High, from the Metro High School Hockey League, is in first place in the Chook Smith Division with five points.
The following is the schedule for Nov. 4.
8 a.m. — Lockview vs Harrison Trimble
9:30 a.m. — Cobequid Educational Centre vs Ecole Mathieu Martin
11 a.m. — Millwood vs Northumberland High
12:30 p.m. — Avon View vs Harrison Trimble
2 p.m. — Sir John A. vs Lockview
3:30 p.m. — Ecole Mathieu Martin vs Millwood
5 p.m. — Northumberland vs CEC
7 p.m. — Semi-final 1
8:30 p.m. — Semi-final 2
