Blake Gallant scored 33 seconds into overtime as the Summerside Capitals defeated the Truro Bearcats 3-2 Sunday to win the peewee division of the Spud minor hockey tournament.
Isaac Oram found Gallant wide open in slot and the assistant captain went forehand, backhand, forehand and tucked the puck past goalie Alex MacDonald’s right skate.
“I got a pass from behind the net and then I deked the goalie and scored,” he told The Guardian. “It was awesome.”
Gallant said it was hard to put into words how exciting it was to win the championship.
“I don’t really know (what to say) . . . It’s awesome though, I love it,” he said.
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The Capitals were leading 2-1 when the Bearcats tied up the game with two minutes to play. Summerside goalie Caleb Coyle made the first two saves, but could not stop the third shot. Summerside had to quickly regroup and focus on scoring the next goal.
“Our team has a lot of tenacity,” Gallant said. “It was hard to try to come back and they fought a good battle.”
The Capitals went 6-0 in the tournament to defend the title they claimed a year ago. But it was tough, said coach Rodney MacArthur.
“We had no easy games for sure. That makes it all the more gratifying,” he said.
“Last year we had a powerhouse team full of second-year players.
“We have one skater and one goalie back from all of last year’s team. To be able to repeat with 15 new players is a phenomenal feeling.”
Captain Noah Dobson scored twice in regulation.
Oram, Gallant, Ethan Beaulieu and Evan Gallant picked up assists.
Rowan Sears and Carson Lanceleve scored for Truro.
The Capitals will be looking to finish the regular season strong heading into the provincials in Pownal March 8 to 10. The winner of the provincials will represent P.E.I. at Atlantics in Corner Brook, N.L.
Midget
John MacKenzie scored three times to lead the Pownal Red Devils to a 4-2 victory over the South Shore Ice Sharks in the midget final.
The third-year midget, who was named player of the game, was at a loss for words after the victory.
“There’s no way to explain it,” MacKenzie said. “It’s awesome to get it done this year. This was the best year to do it.
“Now we’re just thinking ahead to the Island finals and hopefully we’ll do the same thing.”
Sam Hughes also scored in the win.
Patrick Cummiskey had two assists while singles went to Colin MacEachern, Curtis Martell, Jackson Hayley-Atkinson and Harrison Hayden.
Connor Nauss and Jacob Westhaver replied for the Ice Sharks.
Bantam
Cody Ellsworth and Cameron Jacquard scored twice to lead the Western Maroons to an 5-2 victory over Saint John to claim the bantam title.
Logan Walters added a single in the victory while Jake McGraw and Cameron Boyd replied in the loss.
Novice
Cameron MacLean had five goals and an assist to lead North River to an 9-1 victory against Western in the novice final.
Jay MacDonald, Malcolm MacDonald, Crosby Andrews and James Doucette also scored in the win while Patrick Shea replied for Western.
With files by Guardian reporter Mitch MacDonald
