Top four teams move into semi finals

After a two-week break for 18 of the Nova Scotia Eastlink Major Midget players to participate in the Canada Winter games the NSEMMHL playoffs resumed on March 7. Prior to the start of the Canada Winter games all three metro-based teams had punched their ticket into the League semi finals.

The Newbridge Academy Gladiators wrapped up their quarter finals series against the Weeks Major Midgets in six games. Leading the charge for the Gladiators was Brock McLeod with eight goals and four assists and Morgan Barron with nine points. The Gladiators will now host the best-of-seven semi finals against the Cole Harbour Pro Hockey Life Wolfpack. Cole Harbour is coming off a tough series against the Cape Breton Tradesmen. The Wolfpack had their backs against the wall heading to Sydney for Game 6, but the team would find a way to win thanks to the fire power of Aaron Maillet, Alexander Arab, and Andrew Martell, along with the stellar goaltending of Ryan Huestis who posted a 1.86 GAA in the series. These two teams are no strangers to each other already playing five times this season. Three of those games were only decided by one goal.

The Halifax McDonalds had their hands full in the quarter finals with a Valley Wildcats team that was determined to win. The Wildcats gave Halifax a scare but it was the regular season scoring champion, Shane Bowers who continued where he left off leading the league in points with 10 goals and 10 assists. Jacob Hickey and Christian Huntley also delivered for the McDonalds with 14 and nine points respectively. The collective effort was enough to win the series in six games. The reigning Atlantic Champions will now host the Charlie’s Pizza South Shore Mustangs in the semi finals. The Mustangs swept their first round series in four games against the Cape Breton West Islanders thanks to the near perfect goaltending from Colby Muise and Nicholas Dawe who is a native of Bedford. Both goalies have a 2-0 record and Dawe leads the league in the playoffs with a 1.00 GAA/0.97 save percent and 1 shut out. The regular season series between these two teams was also close with 3 of the 4 meetings being decided by a goal.

Follow the league at @NSMMHL for all the latest updates on the 2015 NSEMMHL Playoffs.