In the first senior hockey game played in the sparkling new Danny Cleary Community Centre in Harbour Grace, Whiffen provided shutout goaltending as the HGOE CeeBee Stars kicked off their 2016-17 Avalon East Senior Hockey League season with a 4-0 win over the reigning champion St. John’s Green Sleeves Caps.
The CeeBees followed up with a 2-1 win Sunday over the Southern Shore Pugliesvich Breakers at the Southern Shore Arena in Mobile in the Breakers' first game of the season.
Whiffen, a three-time Herder Memorial Trophy winner, and senior hockey’s top goaltender on multiple occasions, was picked up by the CeeBees with the first overall pick in the Avalon East draft.
Whiffen declined to return to the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts of the Central West senior league after that club elected to go with import Bryan Gillis, a former Corner Brook Royal, this season.
“He was unbelievable,” CeeBees coach Ian Moores said of Whiffen’s 41-save performance in the opener Saturday night. “He brings respect to our team and an amazing resume to Harbour Grace.”
Whiffen’s biggest impact, Moores said, is confidence the puckstop brings to the CeeBees. Players, the coach said, aren’t afraid to take that extra chance knowing Whiffen is behind them, and probably will make a save eight out of 10 times.
“He’s our Carey Price,” Moores said.
A large, near-capacity crowd turned out for the CeeBees’ opener in their new barn, and while Moores admits the locals were curious to see the new rink, he also says Whiffen had a big part to play in the spinning turnstiles Saturday night.
“I would bet a lot of people turned out based on the fact we signed A.J.,” he said. “He means that much to our organization.”
The CeeBees languished through a tough 2015-16 campaign — their first in the Avalon East circuit — with a 3-19-1 record and on the outside looking in at the playoffs in the five-team league.
Matthew Thomey, who played in the Central West loop the past number of years, paced the CeeBees with two goals. Cody Batten had a goal and a helper and defenceman Sam Roberts of St. John’s, who played pro in Europe the past two years and some in the American Hockey League and ECHL prior to that, scored in his senior hockey debut.
Daniel Sparkes finished the night with two helpers.
Kyle Downer made 29 saves for the Caps.
Sunday at the Southern Shore Arena, Lucas Goobie and Andrew Fenwick scored for the CeeBees, with Whiffen making 32 saves for the win.
Stephen Oates replied for the home side, whose Devon O'Brien faced 36 shots.
The Breakers are back in action on tonight when they take on the Caps at the Goulds Sports Arena. Puck drop is 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Bell Island 3, Northeast 1
At the Msgr. Bartlett Arena, the Blues made it two straight wins over the Eagles, runners-up to St. John’s for the league title last season, in their home opener.
After Chris Sparkes staked Northeast to a 1-0 lead, the home side got three unanswered goals from Brandon Burry, Brandon Street and Ryan Power, with the insurance marker.
Matthew Jenkins picked up the win in net for the Blues, turning aside 29 of 30 shots. Mark Yetman had 37 saves in the loss.
FRIDAY
Bell Island 5, Northeast 4
At the Jack Byrne Arena, it was quite a weekend for the Blues, a fourth-place club last season, who registered their first of two wins to kick off the season.
Bell Island did it in fine style, winning via the shootout as the East league opened its 50th season.
Burry potted the game-winning goal in the shootout. Brandon O’Neil, Mike Ryan, Garrett Murphy and Power scored for Bell Island in regulation time.
Bryan Clarke, Tyler Walshe, Andrew White and Dan Cadigan replied for Northeast.
Jenkins, with 31 saves, registered the win. Yetman stopped 36 shots for the Eagles.
rshort@thetelegram.com
Related
In the first senior hockey game played in the sparkling new Danny Cleary Community Centre in Harbour Grace, Whiffen provided shutout goaltending as the HGOE CeeBee Stars kicked off their 2016-17 Avalon East Senior Hockey League season with a 4-0 win over the reigning champion St. John’s Green Sleeves Caps.
The CeeBees followed up with a 2-1 win Sunday over the Southern Shore Pugliesvich Breakers at the Southern Shore Arena in Mobile in the Breakers' first game of the season.
Whiffen, a three-time Herder Memorial Trophy winner, and senior hockey’s top goaltender on multiple occasions, was picked up by the CeeBees with the first overall pick in the Avalon East draft.
Whiffen declined to return to the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts of the Central West senior league after that club elected to go with import Bryan Gillis, a former Corner Brook Royal, this season.
“He was unbelievable,” CeeBees coach Ian Moores said of Whiffen’s 41-save performance in the opener Saturday night. “He brings respect to our team and an amazing resume to Harbour Grace.”
Whiffen’s biggest impact, Moores said, is confidence the puckstop brings to the CeeBees. Players, the coach said, aren’t afraid to take that extra chance knowing Whiffen is behind them, and probably will make a save eight out of 10 times.
“He’s our Carey Price,” Moores said.
A large, near-capacity crowd turned out for the CeeBees’ opener in their new barn, and while Moores admits the locals were curious to see the new rink, he also says Whiffen had a big part to play in the spinning turnstiles Saturday night.
“I would bet a lot of people turned out based on the fact we signed A.J.,” he said. “He means that much to our organization.”
The CeeBees languished through a tough 2015-16 campaign — their first in the Avalon East circuit — with a 3-19-1 record and on the outside looking in at the playoffs in the five-team league.
Matthew Thomey, who played in the Central West loop the past number of years, paced the CeeBees with two goals. Cody Batten had a goal and a helper and defenceman Sam Roberts of St. John’s, who played pro in Europe the past two years and some in the American Hockey League and ECHL prior to that, scored in his senior hockey debut.
Daniel Sparkes finished the night with two helpers.
Kyle Downer made 29 saves for the Caps.
Sunday at the Southern Shore Arena, Lucas Goobie and Andrew Fenwick scored for the CeeBees, with Whiffen making 32 saves for the win.
Stephen Oates replied for the home side, whose Devon O'Brien faced 36 shots.
The Breakers are back in action on tonight when they take on the Caps at the Goulds Sports Arena. Puck drop is 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Bell Island 3, Northeast 1
At the Msgr. Bartlett Arena, the Blues made it two straight wins over the Eagles, runners-up to St. John’s for the league title last season, in their home opener.
After Chris Sparkes staked Northeast to a 1-0 lead, the home side got three unanswered goals from Brandon Burry, Brandon Street and Ryan Power, with the insurance marker.
Matthew Jenkins picked up the win in net for the Blues, turning aside 29 of 30 shots. Mark Yetman had 37 saves in the loss.
FRIDAY
Bell Island 5, Northeast 4
At the Jack Byrne Arena, it was quite a weekend for the Blues, a fourth-place club last season, who registered their first of two wins to kick off the season.
Bell Island did it in fine style, winning via the shootout as the East league opened its 50th season.
Burry potted the game-winning goal in the shootout. Brandon O’Neil, Mike Ryan, Garrett Murphy and Power scored for Bell Island in regulation time.
Bryan Clarke, Tyler Walshe, Andrew White and Dan Cadigan replied for Northeast.
Jenkins, with 31 saves, registered the win. Yetman stopped 36 shots for the Eagles.
rshort@thetelegram.com
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