LANTZ – The host Hants East Rural High Tigers and Central Kings Gators will duel it out Sunday afternoon for NSSAF Division II boys provincial hockey supremacy.
Both squads met in the last game of round-robin play at the East Hants Sportsplex on March 24, knowing the two would meet just under 20 hours later with all the marbles on the line.
In that game, the only thing the teams were playing for was to see who had home ice advantage in the final and possibly an edge mentally over the other heading in to the final.
Owen Weagle scored the game winner with just under a minute to play and Brad Nurse sealed it with an empty net, short-handed goal with just four seconds left as HERH gave Central Kings their first loss of the tournament 3-1.
Adam Hunt had the other Tiger tally, while Will Crocker scored the lone Gators goal.
Evan Pettipas and Kyle Skinner each had two helpers for Hants East.
Brendan O’Neil earned his second straight win in the Tigers net, while Cameron Gould was tagged with the loss despite playing great in net.
Opening day two play, Zachary Forsythe scored a natural hat-trick and Central Kings moved to 2-0 breaking open a close one-goal game with three goals in the final frame for the 6-3 win.
Colton Balsor; Jake Whiston; and Spencer Kennie found the back of the net once each for the victors.
Mitch Baxter, Sam Martin, Owen Kinsmen, and Kohl Bates had one helper each.
Affiliate Owen St. Nicholas, Bryce Oliver, and Mason Sawler scored for West Kings, who dropped to 0-2 with one game later this afternoon against Northeast.
In the second game of the day, Owen Weagle made up for taking a bad penalty that allowed the Northeast Kings (NKEC) Titans to even the game, by breaking in to the Titans end and wiring home what would stand as the eventual game winner as HERH’s record went to 2-0.
After an evenly played and scoreless first, a shot from Sean Morrison found room between the wickets of Harrison Boutilier to put HERH on the board first with 1:17 left in the middle period.
Nathan Gates added an empty net, unassisted tally with 25 seconds to play, securing the Tigers victory. He also had an assist in the game.
Brendan O’Neil stood tall in goal for the Tigers in getting the win, keeping his team in it when pressured early and often.
In the third game of day two, NKEC got in the win column, rebounding to down West Kings 2-1, who went winless in the tournament.
Bryce Dauphinee and Spencer Grantwell with the man advantage found the back of the net for NKEC in the contest that featured very little to any contact. Riley Cook was the lone marksmen for West Kings.
The championship tilt is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at the East Hants Sportsplex in Lantz.
