Newfoundland and Labrador finished 1-4 at the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Excellence Challenge which finished up Sunday in Blainville, Que.
The six-team Challenge (there is one entry from each of the Atlantic provinces and two from Quebec) is an annual under-16 competition viewed by QMJHL scouts as a signature event leading up to the league's 2018 draft, set for June 2 in Shawinigan, Que.
The province dropped the fifth- and sixth-place game Sunday, losing 4-3 in overtime to Nova Scotia. Scoring for Newfoundland and Labrador were Brody Chatman of Labrador City, Alex Power of St. John’s and Andrew Stuckless of C.B.S.
Lucas Park of Steady Brook, with 35 saves, was the player of the game.
The province’s player of the tournament was Mark Hillier of Labrador City, with two goals and an assist in five games.
Newfoundland and Labrador opened the tournament with a 5-2 loss to Nova Scotia, followed by a 2-1 setback to P.E.I. and a 7-2 drubbing by Quebec White. The only win was a 4-3 victory over New Brunswick on Mount Pearl native Alexander French’s overtime goal.
