SACKVILLE, N.B. – The Tantramar Titans men’s hockey team posted one win and one loss this past weekend.
The Titans have been hot and cold this season, showing glimpses of what they could be, but then falling backwards and being a team that is easy to play against, easy to check and unable to move the puck out of their zone.
On Friday against the Saint John Greyhounds at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre, the Titans came out of the gates flying and scoring with ease, building a 4-0 lead before letting SJHS back into the game, before pulling out a 4-3 win.
Justin Vogels started the scoring on the power play with a pass from Seth Smith, before Colby Tower ripped one past the goalie on a fantastic spin move from Riley Estabrooks. Brady Senior and Smith both scored beauties to make it 4-0 with setups from Olivier Longpre, Senior and Vogels.
After the fourth goal, the Greyhounds called a timeout and then started to chip away at the lead. The visitors scored once in each of the first, second and third periods, but came up short in the entertaining contest that featured lots of big hits both ways. Noah Boyd earned the win in the crease.
On Saturday, the Titans travelled the familiar route to St. Stephen to lock horns with the Spartans.
Sam Tower was not his usual solid self and the Spartans defeated the Titans by a score of 6-3, marking the first time St. Stephen defeated Tantramar in five years.
It was predicted after the first time these teams met that it was to be a great series all season long and it’s anticipated the Titans will be looking for redemption in their next meeting.
Smith got the Titans on the board in the second with assists going to Vogels and Senior, with Senior again hitting the scoresheet with helpers from Connor Cadman and Jory Parsons on the power play. But it was as close as the Titans would get, as SSHS kept TRHS from creating good scoring chances in close. Vogels managed to get one by the goalie but the Spartans answered right back.
At no time were the Titans ever in control of the game and the score indicated it.
The Titans have a week of hard practice ahead before taking to the TVMCC ice this weekend, hosting Sussex High on Friday at 7 p.m. and Kennabacasis Valley on Saturday at 6 p.m. Both should be great regular season games as teams jockey for position in the standings.
Like all regular season games, Sackville minor hockey players wearing their team sweaters get in for free.
