11 point week for Earle

The first week of February was very good for Summerside’s Chad Earle, who scored hat tricks twice during the week and added a 7th goal in the team’s third game. On top of that he also had at least one assist in all three games, ending the week with 11 points, easily topping the week’s scoreboard. Woodstock’s Brad Tesink didn’t get any hat tricks or any goals for that matter, but did have assists in all three Slammers’ matches ending the week second with 6 points. Seven players added 5 points to their stats. The Bearcats Dana Fraser picked up an assists in the single game he played during the week, retaining his season point lead with 70. Nick Huard of the Slammers moved to second and to within 5 of Fraser’s lead, now at 65 after picking up 4 points during the week. Miramichi’s Chris Owens dropped back to third with 64 points, adding 3 this week.

Earle’s 7 markers easily were the best for the week. Justin Matthews (Rams), Dan Joyce (Crushers), Brogan Bailey (Slammers) and Chuckie Schembri (Commandos) all had 3 goals. Huard easily retains the goal lead with 38 for the year, but Earle moved into a tie for second with Bailey, both at 29.

Tesink’s six helpers were the most during the week. Six players had 4 assists. Fraser continues to lead the league with 49, but Owens has moved to just one behind at 48. The Slammers’ Lucas McKinley – one of those with 4 assists last week – is third at 42.

Dieppe’s Jonathan McKinnon was in net for 74 minutes last week and allowed just one goal for a 0.81 GAA and a .97 save %. Yarmouth’s Alex Newman allowed just one goal in his 60 minutes (1.00 GAA and .97 save %). Yarmouth’s other goalie, Charles Grant played all but a few minutes of two games, allowing 4 goals and a 2.00 GAA (.94 save %) for the second best performance of the week of a goalie with more than one game. In all, it wasn’t the greatest week for MJAHL goalies as shooters found the net 108 times, for a league average 3.59 GAA and .89 save %. Truro’s Kirk Rafuse held on to the year’s goalie lead with 2.24 GAA and a .922 save % ahead of Woodstock’s Andre Guay (2.40 GAA and .920 save %).

While Woodstock closed out first place in the Meek Division early and then secured first overall with more than a month to play, other playoff positions are still up for grabs. No team has been eliminated, but Campbellton has to win all it remaining contests, while Dieppe has to lose all theirs for the Tigers to see post-season action. Things are even more open in the Bent Division where even second place has not been decided.