Jason La Rose
The Moncton Flyers have claimed top spot in the NBPEIMMHL for the third year in a row, and the seventh time in eight seasons. The defending Atlantic Region champions took control early, winning their first 12 games, and closed strong, earning the ‘W’ in each of their last nine to finish seven points up on Kensington. The Flyers allowed a league-low 75 goals, while ranking No. 2 with 184 scored. Patrick LeBlanc (22-52—74), Cole Cormier (34-33—67) and Yannick Bastarache (23-34—57) were 2-3-4 in NBPEIMMHL scoring, respectively, while goaltender Mathias Savoie posted a league-best 1.98 goals-against average.
PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS New Brunswick 1) Moncton Flyers vs. 6) Northern Moose 3) Saint John Vito’s vs. 5) Fredericton Caps
Prince Edward Island 2) Kensington Wild vs. 4) Charlottetown Pride
FINAL STANDINGS (W-L-OTL) Moncton – 63 points (31-3-1) Kensington – 56 points (27-6-2) Saint John – 43 points (20-12-3) Charlottetown – 35 points (17-17-1) Fredericton – 20 points (8-23-4) Northern – 6 points (2-31-2)
LEADING SCORERS Caleb Kean (Saint John) – 30G 45A 75P Patrick LeBlanc (Moncton) – 22G 52A 74P Cole Cormier (Moncton) – 34G 33A 67P Yannick Bastarache (Moncton) – 23G 34A 57P Colby MacArthur (Kensington) – 21G 35A 56P
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE New Brunswick: 2018 (Moncton Flyers – 5th place) Prince Edward Island: 2006 (Charlottetown Islanders – 6th place)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES (since 1984) New Brunswick: 12 (1986 (host), 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2002 (host), 2009, 2012, 2016 (host), 2018) Prince Edward Island: 3 (1997, 2004, 2006 (host))
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP New Brunswick: none (best finish: silver medal – Saint John Vito’s, 2016) Prince Edward Island: none (best finish: 5th place – Charlottetown Abbies, 1997; Cornwall Thunder, 2004)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS New Brunswick: none Prince Edward Island: none