The St. John’s Junior Cap's 3-1 win over the Mount Pearl Junior Blades on November 21st and their 2-1 nail-biter over the Southern Shore Jr Breakers on November 22nd position them two wins shy of the top spot in the St. John’s Junior Hockey League standings.
The Junior Caps currently boast an 11W 4L record, while the league-leading Junior Breakers have a 13W 2L record.
Steve Callahan, the Junior Cap's Head Coach, said his team's focus heading into both games was simply to play six solid periods of hockey.
“We focused on establishing good habits and to create a playoff series atmosphere. The team responded well; I felt we managed our risks well in both games and was happy overall with their effort.”
In the Junior Blades game, Junior Caps defenceman Mason Dawe opened up the scoring on a setup from Shaemus Best to give the Caps a 1-0 lead in the opening period. The solid goaltending of Junior Blades goaltender Avery Loveless limited the Junior Caps to just four shots in the second frame. In the opening minutes of the third, the smooth stick of Junior Blades Vijay Sahajpal evened the game at 1-1.
The Junior Caps got their lead back at the midway point of the third when clutch sniper Zack Hawco returned a one-goal lead on a setup from speedy playmaker Andy Knight, who also added his own unassisted and empty net goal when the Junior Blades pulled Loveless for an extra attacker to close out a 3-1 win for the Junior Caps.
Callahan said it was challenging to slow down the Junior Blades' top line, led by Shajpal. However, he felt his team demonstrated a strong work ethic, discipline and focus to solidify its win against their cross-city rivals.
“Andy Knight, he just seems to excel at the Mary Brown Center. I mean, his speed and quickness, but Nathan Hurley, for sure, gets up for the Blades games and plays very well against them as well. Then there is Auston Bryan, who we obtained in a trade this year and has been incredible. He never takes a shift off.”
In the Junior Caps game against the Breakers, forward Nolan Avery had reason to smile, with a huge sense of relief after he scored his first two goals just under the sixth-minute mark of the opening frame to give his team a 1-0 lead. The Junior Breakers evened the score at 1-1, which carried the game into overtime. In the opening five minutes of overtime, Avery again played the hero, wristing a hard but fast shot past the Breakers’ J.T. Tobin, giving the Junior Caps a 2-1 win.
Callahan was happy for Avery, who was finally rewarded for his hard work this season.
“We obtained him in a trade with the Celtics for Will Scott, and it was a huge hockey trade because it was one good player for another. He had a lot of success with Andy Knight in U18 hockey last year with the Growlers. I liked how our power play clicked on Friday night, and then he scored in overtime, so obviously, it was a big night for him. It was great to see because he was working hard, wanted results, and was finally rewarded with his first two goals, so it was nice to see that.”
Callahan said that as challenging as it is to play the Junior Breakers at the Mary Brown's Centre, you also have to be at the top of your game in their barn.
“Those guys have a lot of character. They've got an incredibly hard-working team. Southern Shore Arena is a tough place to play. It's a different arena by dimensions, and that team plays very well out of there. I thought we controlled most of the game. The shots on goal were high, but the low score was primarily due to Junior Breakers J.T. Tobin's exceptional goaltending, who was incredible. It shows why he's an elite goaltender in this league.”
The Junior Caps had the opportunity to mix up their lineup against the Junior Breakers, moving Zach Hawko from third to the top line with Jordan Winter and Andrew Veitch. The second line of Auston Bryan in the middle with Seamus Best and Sean Brown created a line the team has aptly called the killer bee line, which Callahan thinks will be tough for opposing teams to match against.
“They created a lot of adversity, were hard on the forecheck, and provided so much energy.”
Callahan also praised the play of goaltender Jack Barrington, defencemen Mason Dawe, Liam Hodder, Steven Ryder, and the return of Charles Walsh and Andrew Power & Jaxsen Healey. Power was a recent addition due to school commitments but has been with the Junior Caps for a few years.
The Junior Caps will continue their road trip against the Junior Stars at the Bay Arena In Bay Roberts on November 29th, the Renegades at the CBS Arena on November 30th, and then take on the Junior Warriors on December 14th at the Paradise Double Ice Complex before returning to the Mary Browns Centre to finish off the first part of their season versus the Junior Celtics December 20th.
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