Day One at Atlantics Highlighted by Steele Subaru Victories

The Steele Subaru Major Midgets of Dartmouth established themselves as a contender after Day One at the Atlantics by blanking the NL Champions, St. John’s Maple Leafs, 4-0 in the tournament opener and following with a 3-1 decision in the primetime night game against the host St. John’s Global Warranty Privateers.

The Dartmouth opener featured goals from Peter Diliberatore, Evan MacKinnon, Matthew Warner, and Kyle Sexton. Subaru Player of the Game, Andrew Coxhead led in the assist department with a pair. Aidan Hosein demonstrated why he earned the NS League Play-off MVP, recording a shut-out against the St. John’s Maple Leafs. Curtis Hefferan earned Player of the Game honors for the Leafs. The local squad started slow and only found their stride in the middle frame. Five third period penalties meant their offensive attack waned yet again in the third. Look for a strong effort from the talented Leafs on Day Two.

The second contest between Dartmouth and a Newfoundland squad was closer as the St. John’s Privateers battled them to 1-1 after one, before Sexton and Warner each scored their second goals of the day. Privateer rookie Drew Bennett has opened the scoring in the first before Coxhead sniped his first of the Atlantics. Joel Abbott earned Player of the Game honors for the Privateers thanks to a solid cage performance. Warner’s play earned him likewise for the Nova Scotia team. This match could have been closer if the Host managed to bang home one on an open net chance.

The middle match featuring the Kensington Wild and the Saint John Vitos was the best contest of Day One. Truly a goalie showcase in this one as Luke Oliver for the Wild and Jake Stewart for the Vitos claimed POG awards. There was little room on the ice in the hard-hitting affair and the Vitos finally solved Oliver midway through the second when Ben Reid went top-shelf. An open-net goal late in the third from Alex Lafreniere sealed the Wild’s fate.

Day One at the Atlantics left everyone with the same impression: winning the Quest for Atlantic Best will mean winning a lot of battles to be on top in the end.