Three Newfoundland ball hockey teams came up a bit short of winning Canadian championships in Mount Pearl, but there was some silver living in Saturday’s storm clouds for the men’s and women’s ‘A’ teams, and the masters squad.
It was silver Saturday for Newfoundland, as Black Horse finished second in the men’s ‘A’ championship, NL United took silver in women’s ‘A’ and NL Colonial Master Selects were runner-up in men’s masters play.
Ontario teams won gold in each division. It’s believed to be the first time one province has swept all three championships at nationals.
However, the medals add to Newfoundland ball hockey’s increasing stockpile.
The silver is Black Horse’s sixth straight national medal — four silver and two bronze. Metro St. John's last played host to the men’s nationals in 2010, when Black Horse won gold. The team has won a national medal in seven of eight years since then.
The masters tournament has only been around four years, but Newfoundland has won three medals — one gold and two silvers.
In men’s ‘A’, New Tecumseth Xtreme scored with 3:11 remaining in regulation time, and held on for a 2-1 win. Marcus Power had the only goal for Black Horse. Mark Yetman was in goal.
In semifinal play Friday night, Black Horse beat Ontario’s Niagara War Pigs 4-0 behind Yetman’s shutout goaltending. Nathan Yetman, Mason Reid, Connor Donaghey and Zach O’Brien had the goals.
Black Horse and New Tecumseth were tops in the standings after the round-robin at 3-0-1. The Newfoundland Host squad was 0-4.
In women’s ‘A’ play, Ottawa Capitals blanked NL United 4-0, despite Newfoundland outshooting the visitors 23-7.
In semifinal play, Sara Diamond scored and Kelsey Shute had the shutout as the Selects beat B.C. 1-0.
Newfoundland was 2-1-1 in the round-robin in the five-team tournament. The NL Host team was 0-4.
In the men’s masters championship game, the Halton. Ont. Leafs built up a 4-0 lead on the Colonial Master Selects. The Selects managed to tie things up, but the Leafs potted two more for a 6-4 win..
Jamie Tobin had two goals for Newfoundland. Jeremy Bishop and Ryan Delaney added singles.
The Leafs now earn the right to play in the world championship next year in the Czech Republic. The Team Canada roster will be selected from players on the seven remaining teams.
In the masters semifinal, Terry Ryan, Peter Cabral and Mike Gambin had the goals as Newfoundland beat the Montreal Machine 3-1.