Privateers Have Best Finish Ever at IceJam

The St. John’s Global Warranty Privateers had their best finish in franchise history this past week, at the East Coast IceJam in Halifax, Nova Scotia, losing in the semi-finals to the Halifax McDonald’s. It was a great showing for the Privateers – who will host the 2016 Major Midget Atlantic Championship, March 31-April 3 in CBS.

The team opened the tournament with a 3-3 tie against the Weeks Major Midgets from Pictou County on Wednesday. Alex Noseworthy, Jack Keough and Mitch McGrath scored for the Privateers in this game and Patrick Pilon chipped in with a pair of assists. Joel Abbott was in net for this one.

Devan Newhook had a goal and three assists to help lead the charge Thursday against the Charlottetown Islanders, in a 5-2 victory. Stephen Mallard added a goal and two assists while Drew Bennett, Matthew O’Leary and Keough rounded out the scoring. Shawn Hurley picked up the win for St. John’s.

In their final round robin game, Friday morning, the club dropped a tight checking 3-2 overtime decision to the Cape Breton Tradesmen. Max French and O’Leary scored the goals and Jordan Yaremchuk took the loss.

In the Round of 16 on Saturday morning, Pilon, Keough and McGrath scored and O’Leary had three assists, as the Privateers defeated the Fredericton Caps, 3-1. Abbott got the win and moved his team onto the quarter-finals later that day.

And in that game, Bennett picked up two goals, with Pilon, O’Leary and French adding singles, and Yaremchuk getting the victory in a 5-1 decision over the Miramichi Rivermen, as the Privateers game was getting stronger and stronger with each passing period of play.

Finally, on that fateful Sunday morning, with the Privateers killing a late penalty, Jarrett Baker’s pointshot eluded a screened Abbott, and would turn out to be the winner, with 55 seconds left in regulation time. It was certainly a tough way to end such a great tournament, but this outing from this club, can only make the team bond and chemistry better, and help them on the Road to Atlantics. Hosting is not enough. These guys definitely want to go as League Champions!

Also, a big congratulations goes out to Devan Newhook, who was named a Tournament First-Team All-Star!

And that hope will continue on January 30 and 31 as the team heads to Corner Brook for a pair of games with the Western Kings.