Weeks Major U18s go to the limit versus Halifax before being edged out 3-2Published Mar 31, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 4 minute readPictou County’s Eli Swain begins to celebrate his overtime goal that gave the WearWell Bombers a 4-3 win over the Valley Wildcats and the provincial title. The game was played March 30 at the Pictou County Wellness Centre in New Glasgow. Photo by Richard MacKenzie /The NewsNEW GLASGOW – It was very close to being a perfect weekend for major-level hockey in Pictou County, but in the end, local hockey fans had to settle for one out of two.The Pictou County Major U15 WearWell Bombers captured the Nova Scotia title with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Bage Valley Wildcats on March 30 at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.Eli Swain scored the winner on a powerplay when he was spotted by defenceman Lawrence Williams at the side of the Wildcats’ net. It was Swain’s second goal of the game to go along with one assist, and Williams’s second point as he scored earlier in the contest.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 night before, the Pictou County Major U18 Weeks held a 2-1 lead with a little over seven minutes to go in the third period of the fifth and deciding game of the provincial championship versus the Halifax McDonalds.Unfortunately for the Weeks, Halifax forward Charlie Benigno fired home the equalizer at the 12:48 mark of the third, and Angus Proctor scored the winner with just a minute and 36 seconds left when he pounced on a loose puck in the slot and ripped it past Pictou County goaltender Jared Sorhaindo.The game was played at the Halifax Forum before a large and enthusiastic crowd, many of them Weeks’ supporters from Pictou, Colchester, and Cumberland counties.U15 BOMBERS“This team buys in and just works their guts out,” Bombers’ coach Jon Sim, who shares head coaching duties with Harry Knoester, said as the team celebrated around him. “They battle hard every game and practice, and it showed here today; they really wanted this.“It took a lot, but they got it done in the end, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”Sim said the Bombers work a lot of their powerplay during the season and what he witnessed on the overtime winner was the perfect execution of that work.Article contentSwain humbly said he whiffed on a few of those plays during the season, but he is grateful this wasn’t one of those occasions.“It was a great pass by Lawrence and a great feeling seeing it go in,” Swain said. “We have such a great group. Everybody works hard and gives it everything they have each time we step on the ice.” Pictou County Wearwell Bombers are the 2024-25 Nova Scotia Major U15 champions following a nail-biting 4-3 overtime win on home ice, March 30, over the Valley Wildcats. Photo by Richard MacKenzie /The NewsTeam captain Jack Cameron also earned an assist on the play to go along with two others he recorded earlier in the game. He called winning the title “awesome” while taking celebratory photos with the trophy and teammates.“It was a tight game all the way, but we found a way to pull through,” Cameron said. “And this team is awesome, I have great teammates. I love playing and competing with these guys.”Like Williams, Jaxon MacDonald had a goal and an assist in the game, while Ewan Sim picked up an assist on MacDonald’s goal.Ben MacDonald earned the win in goal for the Bombers.PERFECT RECORDOn their way to the championship game, Pictou County posted a perfect 5-0 record which included a 6-0 semi-final win over their main rival during the regular season, the Tantallon-based Gulls.Article contentCameron led the way with four goals and an assist, while Ben MacDonald recorded the shutout.Jaxon MacDonald had a goal and an assist while Jude Cochrane scored the other goal and Williams recorded two assists.The Bombers also earned shutout wins over the Western Hurricanes (7-0) and Cape Breton Jonelijim Cougars (6-0), to go along with a 6-2 win over the Wildcats, and 3-1 victory over the Novas in their opening game of the event.The Bombers will now gear up for the Atlantic championships, which take place April 10 to 13 in Dieppe, New Brunswick.“We’re going to let this one sink in and enjoy it for a bit, and then start to get ready for the Atlantics,” Sim said. “I want to team to enjoy this one first.” Pictou County forward Callum Green celebrates his first period goal which gave the Weeks an early lead in the fifth and deciding game versus Halifax Saturday night (March 30) at the Halifax Forum. Also pictured from the Weeks is Rylan Sutherland. The Weeks would take a 2-1 lead into the third period before the McDonalds scored two unanswered goals to win the game, series, and Nova Scotia title. Photo by Richard MacKenzie /The NewsU18 WEEKSWeeks forward Callum Green’s unassisted marker started the scoring off on March 29 after teammate Seth MacKenzie’s apparent goal was disallowed as the referee ruled the net had been dislodged just before the puck went in.The Weeks carried the 1-0 lead into the second period before the McDonalds scored the equalizer on a goal by Will Shearer.Pictou County captain Matt Merryweather would send his team into the break with a 2-1 lead when his shot from the left point beat Halifax goaltender and playoff most valuable player, Sam Madgett. Green and defenceman Jaden Duncan picked on assists on the goal.Article contentThe Weeks were successfully limiting the McDonalds’ effort to tie the contest before Benigno’s goal which not only evened the contest but also swung the last seven minutes of momentum in Halifax’s favour. Still, Pictou County battled right to the end and just missed a couple of grade-A chances before the final buzzer ended the game and their season.Both Halifax head coach Tim Boyce and Madgett started off their comments off by praising their opponents.‘It was a roller coaster; both teams gave 100 per cent of what they have,” said the McDonalds’ veteran coach of both the game and series. “It’s a very good hockey team over there and I told Kyle (MacLennan, Weeks head coach), they’re young, improved a lot over the course of the year, and should be proud of their efforts. They’re going to be a very good team again next year.”“First, I would just like to say that team competes; it’s one of the harder teams to beat I’ve ever faced. They’re so well coached,” Madgett said. “Both teams grinded it out and played well. I also give props to their goalie, he played well. Both teams battled hard and I’m just glad we won the battle in the end.”Article content
Pictou County Major U15s win provincials in dramatic fashion
