Bage Valley Wildcats forward Jack Flanagan, right, and Yarmouth Mariners forward Ewan Cleary battle for the puck behind the Yarmouth net during Maritime Junior Hockey League action at the Kings Mutual Century Centre in Berwick on Sept. 20. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentThe Bage Valley Wildcats need to tighten up defensively.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe run-and-gun Wildcats have allowed a Maritime Junior Hockey League-high 31 goals through five games. Amherst (0-4-0-0) has allowed the second-most with 26 through four games.Article contentArticle contentWhile Valley has scored 21 goals – good for third in the 12-team circuit – it has left the team 1-4-0-0.Article content Bage Valley Wildcats centre Caleb MacDonald celebrates his goal against the Yarmouth Mariners during junior A hockey action in Berwick on Sept. 20. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentValley also has spent the most time in the penalty box through the first two weeks of the season. They have been assessed 134 penalty minutes. Summerside is second in the league with 115 penalty minutes through four games.Article contentArticle contentHere’s a look at Valley’s two recent games.Article contentArticle contentCrushers 6 Wildcats 5Article contentPictou County Weeks Crushers’ captain Logan Crosby had two goals and an assist to pace his team to a 6-5 win Sept. 17 at the Kings Mutual Century Centre in Berwick.Article contentCade Moser and Braylan Fitzgerald each collected a goal and an assist for the Weeks while Matthew McDonald and Owen Bell rounded out the scoring.Article contentDrew Lutz led the home side with a pair of goals while Jude Campbel and Caleb MacDonald both had a goal and an assist and Michael Arsenault also found the back of the net. Felix Belanger had two assists while singles went to Ryan Fletcher, Aidan Bent and Noah Befekadu.Article contentJake Poirier stopped 20 shots for the win while Cohen Stoddard allowed six goals on 41 shots in the loss.Article contentThe visitors held a 3-2 lead after the first period while the teams went to the second intermission tied 4-4. Pictou County was 2-for-6 on the power play while Valley was 1-for-2.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentMariners 8 Wildcats 4Article contentArticle contentOwen O’Donnell had two goals and two assists to pace the Yarmouth Mariners to an 8-4 win over the Wildcats Sept. 20 in Berwick.Article contentRyder MacQueen also scored a pair while singles went to Berwick’s Luke Foley, Liam Dutcher, Justin Garneau, and Ewan Cleary. Valley traded Foley, an 18-year-old forward, to Yarmouth Sept. 16 for a second-round pick in 2026 and a seventh-round pick in 2027.Article content Yarmouth Mariners forward Luke Foley celebrates his goal with his new teammates Sept. 20. It was his first game in his hometown of Berwick since the Bage Valley Wildcats traded him to the Mariners. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentCampbell had a hat trick for the Wildcats while MacDonald had the other marker. Campbell’s linemates, Bent and Arsenault, each had three helpers while Fletcher chipped in one.Article content Winger Jude Campbell celebrates his goal with his Bage Valley Wildcats teammates during Maritime Junior Hockey League play at the Kings Mutual Century Centre in Berwick on Sept. 20. Photo by Jason Malloy /Annapolis Valley RegisterArticle contentYarmouth’s Carter Arnold stopped 32 of 34 shots before leaving with a lower-body injury 34 minutes into the game. Keegan Warren allowed two goals on 23 shots in relief. Cohen Lesperance-Space was tagged with the loss after allowing eight goals on 51 shots.Article contentArticle contentUpcoming gamesArticle contentThe Wildcats return to the ice in Berwick this weekend for their fifth and sixth home games of the month. They host the Edmundston Blizzard (1-2-0-1) Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. and the Ramblers Sunday, Sept. 28, at 3 p.m.Article contentArticle contentSigningsArticle contentThe Wildcats announced they had signed defenceman Duncan Anderson on Sept. 21.Article contentThe 16-year-old Antigonish native was the third overall pick in June’s draft. The five-foot-eight, 180-pound blue liner was also an 11th-round pick of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).Article contentHe played at South Kent Academy in Connecticut last season.Article contentOn Sept. 16, the Wildcats signed 18-year-old forward Antoine Pilotte. The Montreal native had three goals and four assists with the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes in 2024-25.Article content
Valley has allowed junior A league-high 31 goals in five games
