Road to the 2018 TELUS Cup: NSMMHL
The Halifax McDonald’s survived a three-horse race in the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League, edging Dartmouth by one point
PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS 1) Halifax McDonald’s vs. 8) South Shore Mustangs 2) Dartmouth Major Midgets vs. 7) Pictou County Major Midgets 3) Cape Breton West Islanders vs. 6) Cape Breton Tradesmen 4) Valley Wildcats vs. 5) Cole Harbour Wolfpack
FINAL STANDINGS (W-L-OTL) Halifax – 60 points (29-5-2) Dartmouth – 59 points (29-6-1) Cape Breton West – 56 points (26-6-4) Valley – 35 points (15-16-5) Cole Harbour – 34 points (16-18-2) Cape Breton – 26 points (16-18-2) Pictou County – 23 points (10-23-3) South Shore – 19 points (7-24-5)
LEADING SCORERS Stephen Fox (Cape Breton West) – 40G 28A 68P Alex Drovers (Halifax) – 27G 30A 57P Sam Gillis (Cape Breton) – 22G 28A 50P Calum MacPherson (Cape Breton West) – 24G 24A 48P Aaron Brown (Halifax) – 25G 23A 48P
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE 2017 (Cape Breton West Islanders – gold medal)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES (since 1984) 20 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1992 (host), 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 (host), 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 (Cape Breton West Islanders)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 1 (2017, Cape Breton West Islanders)
TOP REGULAR SEASON TEAM – HALIFAX MCDONALD’S The Halifax McDonald’s earned the NSMMHL regular-season title after a wild season that went right down to the wire. The Macs topped Dartmouth by one point, going 8-1-1 in their final 10 games after the Major Midgets went on a late 10-0 run that included a pair of wins over Halifax. The Macs led the league in goals with 172 while only allowing 80. The offense was led by rookie Alex Drover, whose 57 points (27G 30A) had him second in league scoring. Between the pipes, Alex MacVicar had a phenomenal season, leading the league in save percentage (.938), goals-against average (1.69), and shutouts (5).