Antigonish wins Don Johnson opener

news2023-04-25

Antigonish Jr. Bulldogs Head Coach Donnie Grant said, "it was two plus months since goaltender Adam Tkacz has played any significant hockey," however you would never have known watching him Tuesday night as he and Bradley Armstrong sparked Antigonish to a 4-3 win over the Liverpool Privateers in the opening game of the 2023 Don Johnson Memorial Cup Tournament at Queens Place Emera Centre in Liverpool.  The teams played a scoreless first period before player of the game for the Bulldogs Bradley Armstrong scored two in the second period along with one for Andrew Murray to give Antigonish a 3-1 lead after forty minutes.  Malcom Bussey of the Privateers with a razor sharp shot just a few feet to the side of the Antigonish net after taking a great pass from Dylan Armstrong to pull the Privateers to within one goal at 2-1 Bulldogs before Armstrong's second of the period unassisted after some tough slogging in front of Privateers goalie Aidan Dunrford.  The third period was only 1:49 old when Zachary Lorette made it 4-1 Bulldogs.  However the game was far from over as Aaron Lane of Liverpool brought his club to within 2 goals with a shot from inside the face-off circle.  Durnford then made a spectacular save off Darren Waterman as he went down and literally sprawled across the crease as Waterman could not lift the puck over Durnford.  Grant added, "we gave Liverpool a two-man advantage for 1:31 in the third and he began thinking about Toronto-Tampa from Monday night, saying "we simply have to be more disciplined in such a tight game and play smarter and more disciplined."  Dylan Patterson then scored for Liverpool with under five minutes to play and the Bulldogs were up only 4-3.  Liverpool Head Coach Ryan Falkenham said after the game, "our club played a strong first period but the step back in the second proved to be costly for the Privateers."  The teams finished with 39 shots apiece.