Jason La Rose
The Cole Harbour Wolfpack are entering the NSMMHL playoffs on one heck of a roll. The Wolfpack started the season with back-to-back 2-1 losses in mid-September and haven’t lost in regulation since, including an 18-game win streak from early November through mid-February. Although its offence ranked No. 2 behind Brady Hunter (21-29—50) and Riley Kidney (19-28—47), who finished second and third, respectively, in league scoring, Cole Harbour did it with defence; the Wolfpack allowed only 75 goals, 20 fewer than second-place Halifax. Griffin Kelly led the NSMMHL with a 1.97 goals-against average and 16 wins.
PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS 1) Cole Harbour Wolfpack vs. 8) Pictou County Major Midgets 2) Halifax McDonald’s vs. 7) South Shore Mustangs 3) Dartmouth Major Midgets vs. 6) Cape Breton Tradesmen 4) Valley Wildcats vs. 5) Cape Breton West Islanders
FINAL STANDINGS (W-L-OTL) Cole Harbour – 64 points (30-2-4) Halifax – 53 points (24-7-5) Dartmouth – 46 points (22-12-2) Valley – 45 points (22-13-1) Cape Breton West – 32 points (15-19-2) Cape Breton – 24 points (11-23-2) South Shore – 23 points (10-23-3) Pictou County – 22 points (10-24-2)
LEADING SCORERS Ben Allison (Dartmouth) – 28G 23A 51P Brady Hunter (Cole Harbour) – 21G 29A 50P Riley Kidney (Cole Harbour) – 19G 28A 47P Sonny Kabatay (Dartmouth) – 17G 27A 44P Jacob Melanson (Pictou County) – 20G 21A 41P
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE 2017 (Cape Breton West Islanders – gold medal)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES (since 1984) 20 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1992 (host), 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 (host), 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 (Cape Breton West Islanders)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 1 (2017, Cape Breton West Islanders)