Pirates blank Miners 1-0 for big win in Port Hawkesbury
Bill Dunphy

Evan Wright (right) delivers a highlight-reel backhand pass to Marc Bourgeois (left) who reached the puck at speed to roof it over Glace Bay goalie Jake McKendry in Friday's 1-0 win at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre.

Needing the two points to stay in reach of the Glace Bay Miners and ahead of the surging Pictou County Scotians, the Strait Pirates battled the Miners to a 1-0 victory at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre on Friday.

“There is no quit in us whatsoever,” said veteran defenceman Dale MacIntosh. “This was a nice win to pull out against them, and it was the result of a full 60 minutes by everybody.”

Following the pre-Christmas trade of their captain, Sean Tyler, to Pictou County, there were many who thought the Pirates were about to fold the tent.

“No way. When Sean got traded we were all disappointed, but we’re still fighting for the win this season. Nothing would be better than for us to knock the Scotians out; everyone in that dressing room feels like we have something to prove.

“We might still be struggling to score goals, but our defence played really well tonight, and (Luke) Jessop played a great game for the shutout,” said MacIntosh.

Despite just the one goal scored, the game was entertaining with both sides finishing checks and getting chances.

Scoreless after the first, Marc Bourgeois scored the only goal the Pirates would need when he swooped in on the right wing to fire home a sick backhanded centering pass by Evan Wright to beat Jake McKendry on the short side.

The only penalty of the game, an intereference call against Glace Bay, followed the goal, but the Pirates couldn’t capitalize and the game played out for the 1-0 win with a solid defensive effort by the Pirates.

Jessop made 16 stops for his first shutout as a Pirate. The Pirates directed 21 shots at McKendry.

There are just nine games left in the regular season. The Pirates are at home to the Cumberland County Blues this Friday and are in Glace Bay Saturday for a game against the Miners.

The Pirates have a special home game planned for Feb. 8th when they will head down north to host the Glace Bay Miners at the Cabot Trail Arena in Cheticamp.

With five players from Cheticamp on the roster, MacIntosh said they’re all looking forward to the game.

“That’s really exciting. It’s been a long time since I’ve played in Cheticamp,” he said, figuring it was while he was in grade nine at NDA before joining the Cape Breton West Major Midgets the next year.

“There hasn’t been much hockey played in Cheticamp this year, so I expect it to be a full house for that game. I can’t wait.”