==== Weeks Crushers MJAHL Hockey ====

A week of Ups & Downs

New Glasgow - The Weeks Crushers have had a very interesting week to say the least. The Crushers began the week with a 3rd straight win over the Halifax Lions at home, only to find out a day later that they would lose the two points because of a very confusing situation involving Weeks Major Midget forward Brent Tunrbull.

During a Midget game last weekend, Turnbull was accessed a questionable checking from behind penalty late in the third period and was ejected from the game. A day following that game, the Crushers contacted the NSMMHL to see if Turnbull had received a suspension or would he be available to be used as a affiliate player. The Crushers were given the go ahead in writing from the NSMMHL that Turnbull had not been suspended and could play.

A day after scoring his first MJAHL goal in the 2-1 victory over the Lions, Turnbull and the Weeks organization were informed that the NSMMHL had made a mistake on the ruling and Turnbull should have been suspended, therefore the Crushers would be stripped of the two points for using an ineligible player. A decision that has not sat well with the Weeks Organization.

After learning that the two points they worked hard for a few nights earlier was stripped, the Crushers boarded the team bus and headed to Miramichi for a match up against the Timberwolves. In two previous meetings this season, the Crushers defeated the Wolves by scores of 7-1 and 6-3. The Wolves are a very tough team to play against at home and got some revenge as they defeated the Crushers 4 -1. Mitchell Fraser scored his first goal as a Crusher in the contest.

Immediately following the Miramichi game, the Crushers headed up the highway, arriving in Campbellton at around 1:00am. On Friday morning, the Crushers were put through a very demanding, puck-less morning skate by the coaching staff. A players only meeting followed at the hotel after the coaching staff made it very clear that in their eyes, the team has been under achieving and more is expected of them. Friday nights match up had two goalies battling former teams as Nick Spear got the start for the Crushers and Randy Chisholm started for the Tigers. Perhaps the heavy legs from the morning skate played a roll in the contest, but the Crushers were finally able to produce some offence and skated away with a 6-4 win.

A long bus ride home was next on the agenda for the Crushers as they boarded the bus at 10:30pm and headed for home. As the bus pulled into the JBM stadium at nearly 5:00am, a quiet group of players unloaded the bus, emptied their gear bags and headed home for a short nap before returning to the rink at 8:30am to take part in the Haiti Relief bridge toll campaign.

Sunday afternoon the boys were back on the bus for a make up game with the Bridgewater Lumberjacks. This was a very important game for both teams, as the Crushers looked to widen the gap on 2nd place and the Jacks look to take over 3rd place in the Bent. The Crushers entered the contest with a certain gameplan and for the first time in quite sometime, they executed it for a full sixty minutes and were rewarded with a dominating 6-1 win, outshooting the Jacks 60 - 29.

The Crushers arrived at the JBM stadium at 12:30am and were relieved to find out that they had earned a much needed day off on Monday. The team will return to the ice on Tuesday and begin to prepare for Thursdays home game against the Yarmouth Mariners.

CRUSHERS HELPING HAITI

JANUARY, 19, 2010, NEW GLASGOW, NS………The effort to help the country of Haiti recover from the destruction of the recent earthquake is getting another boost right here at home in Pictou County and will add to the tremendous response that has been pouring in from around the world.

For only the second time known in recent history, the Town of New Glasgow has approved a voluntary toll to be held on the George Street Bridge in New Glasgow on Saturday, January 23 with all proceeds being directed towards the Haiti Relief Fund administered by the Canadian Red Cross. The toll collection will take place from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm and the Pictou County Weeks Jr. A Crushers along with the Weeks Major Midgets will volunteer their time to assist with the donation collection that will be supported by New Glasgow Police Service. The first time such an event on the bridge took place was in response to another global disaster, the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004.

New Glasgow Mayor Barrie MacMillan says that the magnitude of the devastation experienced by the people and the country of Haiti warrants the decision. "It is a natural disaster of unimaginable proportions and we wanted to do something that would enable our community to reach out to the people of Haiti. It will take a global effort to help Haiti rebuild and we wanted to demonstrate our concern as global citizens. We wanted to come together as a community to help."

Councillor Terry Curley who is also Manager of Operations for the Weeks hockey organizations says, "This is an opportunity for everyone to help with whatever amount they can afford. Every cent matters. People are looking for a way to help and this provides that medium. In the grander scheme of things, we really are a global village and this is a way to extend a helping hand."

When the world first learned about the severity of the earthquake in Haiti death counts were reported in the 50,000 range; these numbers continue to escalate and are predicted to be close to 200,000 or more. This really hit home says New Glasgow’s Marketing & Communications Director Kim Dickson, "Fifty thousand is a similar population to our County- it would be as if Pictou County disappeared and suddenly we were all gone. And that was just the beginning of the desolation, damage and ruin experienced by Haiti. A loss of this enormity is unthinkable."

"The support from Nova Scotians to Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti has been tremendous. We want to thank the Town of New Glasgow for this initiative to raise funds to help people affected by this devastating earthquake," says Ismael Aquino, Regional Director of the Canadian Red Cross in Nova Scotia.

Crushers tame Lions. Focus shifts to tilt with Bearcats

New Glasgow - For the second time in three days the Weeks Crushers defeated the Halifax Lions in MJAHL action at the JBM Stadium on Thursday night. The game was former Crushers head caoch Troy Ryan first game back in Pictou County. The Lions struck first on the powerplay as former Crusher Stuart Lenehan was able to beat Justin Collier. Weeks rallied in the 2nd period with two goals of their own coming from Cody Roland and Dan Joyce.

Unlike Tuesdays match where the Crushers were not able to put the Lions away in regulation, the newly formed line of Hum, Joyce and Adam Chipman proved too much for the Halifax squad and scored two more times in the 3rd to make the final 4-1 Crushers.

The victory was short lived however as the team must refocus and set their sights on this Saturdays game vs the Truro Bearcats. The Bearcats lead the Bent division by 7 points over the Crushers and have three games in hand. So far this season, the Bearcats have had little trouble with the Crushers having a 4-1 record against them. However the two teams that will meet this Saturday in Truro will different from the ones that have played in the 5 games thus far.

The Bearcats added more offence to an already gifted core group of forwards with the addition of Yuri Cheremetiev from the Halifax Mooseheads. In only 7 games this season with the Bearcats, Yuri had piled up 6 goals and 7 assisits for 13 points. The Bearcats also welcomed back into the fold 20yr old goaltender Richard Gagnon who last season played in 27 games for the Cats accumulating a 1.86 GAA.

At the Jan 10 trade deadline, the Crushers were arguably the team that improved the most. The Crushers aquired former Amherst Rambler captains Adam Chipman and Derek Smith. Chipman, a hard working forward with an offensive flare adds character and grit to the Crushers. Smith, and offensive defenseman will help give the Crushers a second wave of a attack from the blue line. Both have fit in nicely to an already tight knit group and look forward to helping the Crushers for the remainder of the season.

After Saturdays run in with the Cats, the Crushers host the Halifax Lions on Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010 at the JBM Stadium and end the week with a road trip that features games in Miramichi and Campbellton on Thursday and Friday, followed by a make up game in Bridgewater on Sunday.

Crushers defeat Lions, look to spoil Ryan's home coming

New Glasgow - If you were to ask any of the returning players from last years Crushers squad, which game during the season they were most looking forward to playing, January 14th would no doubt be at the top of their list. This Thursday marks the first return to the John Brother MacDonald for former Crusher bench boss Troy Ryan.

Nerves would have most likely been an issue for the Crushers, playing the lions for the first time but they were able to get that out of the way as they travelled to Halifax to take on Ryan and his Lions Tuesday night. The Crushers came out of the gate with a purpose, dominating the first five minutes of the period but were unable to solve Halifax netminder Kody Blois. The Lions battled back and with the man advantage as the deadly Lion powerplay went to work and got on the board first.

Down 1-0 entering the second period, the Crushers bounced back with goals from Dan Joyce and Tyler Noseworthy 20 seconds apart to take a 2-1 lead into the third. The Lions tied the game 1/2 way through the final period and forced OT. The Crushers pressed in the extra frame and Crusher Captain Geoff Hum was rewarded for his strong game as he was able to beat Blois for the game winner.

Thursday nights rematch is shaping up to be a good one as Ryan returns to the arena where only 2 short years ago he and his Crushers were hoisting the Fred Page Cup. No doubt it will be an emotional return for Ryan. He spent 5 seasons behind the Crusher bench and has made many good friends during his time in Pictou County. The Lions will look to give their new coach his first win against his former team, while the Crushers will try and spoil the home coming.