Blues win Don Johnson Cup

UPPER TANTALLON – Prior to the start of the Don Johnson Cup last week veteran defenseman Matt Noiles said members of the Cumberland County Cool Blues had some unfinished business to take care off after falling just short of their goal a year ago.

Noiles scored probably the biggest goal of his career early in the third period as the Blues defeated the host Bay Ducks 4-1 to win their first ever Atlantic Junior B hockey championship here Sunday.

Ryan Oakley picked up the lone assist on the goal by Noiles, who is finishing his fourth season on the Blues’ blue line.

It was the Ducks who stormed from the gate in the early going with Scott Bowness beating Justin Court just 1:14 into the first period to give the host squad a 1-0.

Seth Crowe scored on the power play at the 8:26 mark of the second period to tie the score with game MVP Cody Roach and Oakley adding assists.

After Noiles gave the Blues the lead, Jordie Shaw, who scored the game winner against the St. John’s Capitols in Saturday’s semifinal, gave Cumberland County a two-goal cushion scoring with 12:35 to play with Murray Bavis and rookie defenseman Cole Wood adding assists.

Crowe salted the game away with his second of the match up with 7:24 to play with Roach and Zach Carson, who joined the team midway through the season from the Amherst Ramblers, adding assists.

The Blues out-shot the Ducks 45-21.

On Saturday, the Blues fought back from a 2-1 deficit after two periods with Cody Roach scoring the tying goal with 7:25 to play and Jordie Shaw the winner with 4:23 to go en route to a 3-2 win over the defending champion St. John’s Capitols, a team they defeated in a shootout during the round robin.

Roach also scored in the first period for the Blues while Alex MacKinnon, Matt Noiles and Seth Crowe each added assists.

Steven O’Keefe and Michael King replied for St. John’s.

St. John’s, who out-shot the Blues 40-33, could not capitalize on a power play in the game’s final minute when Cumberland County got caught with too many men on the ice.

The Ducks earned their spot in the final with a 4-1 win over the Kensington Vipers.

Ducks goalie Travis Smith, a key reason for the host team earning a berth in the championship, was named the tournament’s most valuable player while Cody Roach (forward) and Ryan Oakley (defense) were selected to the tournament all-star team.

Other award winners included most sportsmanlike player Shane Sullivan of St. John’s and all-star team members forwards Doug Hoare of the Ducks and Colin Escott of St. John’s and defenseman George Northrup of Charlotte County, N.B.

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