Bridge recorded a hat-trick Feb. 3 in their 6-3 loss.
Assistant coach Brett Fletcher said despite the final score, the Valley Maple Leafs held their own and made the Colts work for the win.
“We had a few bad shifts that cost us some goals and we really gave them a good run in the last period,” said Fletcher following the game.
“We put pressure on several times throughout the game and we just couldn't find a way to put the puck in the net.”
Bridge recorded a hat-trick Feb. 3 in their 6-3 loss.
Assistant coach Brett Fletcher said despite the final score, the Valley Maple Leafs held their own and made the Colts work for the win.
“We had a few bad shifts that cost us some goals and we really gave them a good run in the last period,” said Fletcher following the game.
“We put pressure on several times throughout the game and we just couldn't find a way to put the puck in the net.”
Cole Harbour's Jacob Tibert and Nathan Sheppard scored in the first period to lead the Leafs 2-0.
Joshua Rector scored on the power-play in the second period for the Colts. Bridge then tallied two goals, injecting the Leafs with some renewed energy.
“He played really well. He found a way to find the back of the net,” said Fletcher. “He is a bit of a sniper and he definitely proved that tonight.”
Alexander Arab finished the scoring in the second, giving the Colts to a 4-2 lead.
Tibert, for his second unassisted goal of the evening, scored less than five minutes into the third period before Bridge recorded his hat-trick. With 12:46 remaining in the period, the Leafs made a concerted effort to score but were denied. Kyle Pinksen scored on an empty net with 2:02 remaining to provide the Colts with the 6-3 victory.
Collecting assists for the Colts were Jeffrey Withers (2), Aaron Parks (2), Brett Armstrong, Nicholas Buckborough, Sheppard, and Tibert.
Collecting assists for the Leafs were Drew Stonehouse, Connor O'Brien, Nathan Clarke, and Jonah Allen.
Kirklin Allen was in the nets for the Colts, stopping 29 of 32 shots.
Chris Clokie and William Earley shared netminding duties for the Leafs, with Clokie playing for just under 36 minutes. He faced 19 shots and turned 15 away. Earley faced 11 shots and let one through.
Fletcher said Clokie left due to an injury and both goaltenders had a good night.
Clokie “made some very, very big saves – some acrobatic type saves that were unbelievable. He kept us in the game at that point, actually. I think he must've tweaked something when he was doing that,” said Fletcher.
Earley “was cold from sitting on the bench. He came in and did very well. He saw the puck well and kicked it away,” said Fletcher.
It remains to be seen who will be in nets for the Leafs when their Highway 101 rivals come to town for a make up game on Feb. 5.
The Leafs and Sackville Blazers square off at 3 p.m. Fletcher said while it may be Super Bowl Sunday, he's hoping fans will come out to watch their game before making their way to the football parties that night.
On Feb. 6, the Leafs will visit the Blazers for a 7:30 p.m. start.
On Feb. 7, the last place Cumberland County Blues are set to visit the Hants Exhibition Arena for a rare Tuesday night game. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
Their last two regular season games will be played Feb. 11 and Feb. 12. On Feb. 11, they head to Halifax to take on the first place Colts for a 7:30 p.m. game. On Feb. 12, they host the East Hants Penguins at 1:30 p.m.
“It's a tight race right now,” said Fletcher.
“Somebody can slip from the top to the bottom (in the standings) very easily, really within one or two games and there's not very many left.”
