The schedule for provincials has been set. Taking place March 20-22 in Montague, the Flames will play:

Friday, March 20, 4:30pm vs. Montague Norsemen

Saturday, March 21, 12:30pm vs. Charlottetown Abbies

Saturday, March 21, 5:30pm vs. Gulf Storm

Sunday, March 22, 11:00am, 2nd Div 2 vs. 1st Div 1

Sunday, March 22, 12:30pm, 2nd Div 1 vs. 1st Div 2

Sunday, March 22, 3:30pm, Finals

All games will take place at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre in Montague

On Thursday night at the Gateway Arena in Borden, the North River Flames defeated Gulf Storm by a score of 4-2. Ethan MacLean earned the goaltending win, finishing the regular season with a record of 6-3-5, and a 2.50GAA. Zach Wilson scored 3 goals, and Nick Havenga added the other tally. The Flames finished the regular season with a 16-4-8 record for 40 points, and 2^nd place.

Much of the 1^st period both teams were getting used to the small ice surface, and not many chances came. Havenga (Lank) opened the scoring with 1:44 to play in the period.

Just 14 seconds into the 2^nd, Wilson (Peters, Crozier) banked one in from a weird angle to give the Flames a 2-0 lead. With 3:03 left in the period, Wilson (Peters) struck again, sending the Flames into the 3^rd with a 3-0 lead.

Gulf Storm struck twice in under 2 minutes, cutting the lead to 1, but Wilson (Crozier) struck again quickly to restore the 2 goal lead.

The Flames next game action comes next Friday, where they begin the provincials against the Montague Norsemen. Game time is scheduled for 4:30pm in Montague.

On Wednesday night in Montague, the JR’s Pizza Flames defeated the Montague Norsemen by a score of 5-3, clinching 2^nd place in the standings heading into provincials. Nick Havenga continued his offensive display with 2 goals, giving him 7 goals in his last 3 games. Other goals came from Jackson Roberts, Matt Lank, and Zach Wilson. Cedric Stead earned the goaltending win, finishing the regular season with a 10-1-3 record, 1.79GAA, and 3 shutouts. The victory brought the Flames regular season record to 15-4-8.

Just over 2 minutes into the game, Havenga (Roberts, Godfrey) blew one past the Montague goaltender on the powerplay, giving the Flames the lead. No more goals came in the opening frame.

North River got back to work in the 2^nd, with Roberts (Lank, Godfrey) adding another powerplay marker 5:46 into the period. Just under two minutes later, Lank scored on a shorthanded breakaway to increase the lead to 3-0. With 1:10 to play in the period, Havenga picked off a cross ice pass in the neutral zone and scored another shorthanded marker. Montague scored 15 seconds later on the powerplay to cut the lead to 4-1.

Montague cut the lead to 2 on a play that would more likely be found in a game of handball rather than hockey with 7:10 to play, and added another one with 1:28 to go. With a 4-3 lead, Wilson (Godfrey, Roberts) added a late insurance marker with 58 seconds to play.

The Flames will finish up the regular season tomorrow (Thursday) night in Borden against Gulf Storm. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30, and players are asked to arrive one hour before game time.

The Fredericton Tournament schedule has been released. Our games are:

Thursday March 5 at 12:30 pm @ Willie O'Ree 2 Arena vs Restigouche Vikings

Thursday March 5 at 4:30 pm @ Willie O'Ree 2 Arena vs Moncton Hawks

Friday March 6 at 8:45 am @ Willie O'Ree 1 Arena vs Colpitts Canucks

Friday March 6 at 2:00 pm @ Willie O'Ree 1 Semi Final 1

Friday March 6 at 3:30 pm @ Willie O'Ree 1 Semi Final 2

Saturday March 7 at 2:45 pm @ Willie O'Ree 1 Arena Championship Final






  
  
  
  
 

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames are the champions of the 2015 Capital Invitational that took place this weekend in Fredericton, NB. After starting off with a 2-0 loss to the Restigouche Vikings, the Flames reeled off 4 straight victories to claim the title. This victory could not have taken place without the hard work of all team members; the staff would like to thank the players for their dedication and hard work throughout the event.

In the opening game Thursday afternoon, the Flames couldn’t seem to shake the rust off from an early morning drive from Cornwall. There were flashes of the usual team, however the offense just did not come. The final score was 2-0, with Ethan MacLean stopping 7 shots in the loss.

In the second game, which also took place Thursday, the Flames played a complete game right from the beginning, earning a 4-0 victory over the Moncton Hawks. Cedric Stead stopped 6 shots to earn the shutout. Daniel Godfrey (1-1), Rowan Walsh, Owen Handregan, and Connor Crozier scored for the Flames. Assists came from Matt Lank (2), Jackson Roberts (2), Nick Havenga, and Ben Peters.

Early Friday morning, the Flames punched their ticket to the semi-finals with a 3-2 victory over the Fredericton based Colpitts Canucks. MacLean made 15 saves for the victory, and goals came from Peters (2-1) and Havenga. Lank added another assist.

The Flames faced off Friday afternoon in the semi-final against the York North Coyotes. North River struck early and often, earning a 9-2 victory and a berth in the finals on Saturday afternoon. Stead made 18 saves for the victory and goals came from Havenga (2-2), Peters (1-2), Lank (2), Godfrey (2), Crozier (1-1), O. Handregan (1-1). Other assists came from Zach Wilson (2), Lucas Muttart (2), Brett MacDonald, Cody Jay, and Connor Gauthier.

In the final game, the Flames faced the Restigouche Coyotes. A very confident bunch, we are able to defeat them by a score of 7-3 after a chippy affair. MacLean made 12 saves in the win, and goals came from Havenga (3), Gauthier (2), O. Handregan, and Wilson. Peters (2), MacDonald (2), Roberts (2), Crozier, Jay, and Griffin Hughes chipped in with assists.

The Flames next game action comes Wednesday night in Montague, followed by a meeting with Gulf Storm on Thursday in Borden. Players are asked to arrive one hour before game time for both games.

On Sunday night at the Credit Union Place in Summerside, the North River JR’s Pizza Flames trimmed the Summerside Capitals by a score of 6-2. Ben Peters led the way with 4 goals and an assist, while Zach Wilson chipped in with 4 assists. Other scoring came from Connor Crozier and Owen Handregan. Ethan MacLean made 17 saves to earn the victory. The win improved the Flames regular season record to 13-4-8, good for 2^nd place in the standings.

North River opened the scoring 3:54 into the game when Crozier (Wilson, Peters) beat Summerside’s goaltender to the low stick side. No other offence took place in the period, and Summerside held an advantage in the shots 8-6.

1:17 into the middle frame, Peters (Crozier, Wilson) scored with his back facing the net when he slipped the puck between his own legs and through the five hole. Summerside cut the lead to one 22 seconds later, however Peters (Wilson) struck again with 3:56 to play in the period on a nice deke from in close, giving the Flames a 2 goal cushion. He completed the natural hat-trick with 53 seconds to play in the period, assisted by Crozier and Wilson. Shots after 2 periods were 17-11 for North River.

3:22 into the final period, Peters (Walsh) had a point shot bounce in off him for his 4^th tally. Summerside got another one back with 5:47 to play, however Owen Handregan (E. Handregan) restored the 4 goal lead with 4:11 to play. Final shots were 28-19 for North River.

The Flames are back in action Wednesday night at the APM Centre in Cornwall, where the Sherwood Falcons come to town. Game time is scheduled for 7:20pm and players are asked to arrive one hour ahead of game time.

Also, the team will be taking part in a tournament in Fredericton, NB this coming weekend. The first game is at 12:30pm on Thursday at the Willie O’Ree Arena, with other games taking place at 4:30pm (Thursday) and 8:45am (Friday). 

The game tonight is canceled and we won't be practicing either - stay home and safe!

Game is rescheduled to March 4 at 7:20 pm at APM Centre.

Tonight's game (Feb.20) in Rustico is canceled due to bad road conditions. I'll let you know when the new time for this game will be.

Rick

On Wednesday night at the APM Centre, the JR’s Pizza Flames were firing on all cylinders, defeating the league leading Pownal Red Devils by a score of 3-0. The loss was Pownal’s 2^nd of the regular season. Cedric Stead made 17 saves in the shutout victory, and goals came from Ben Peters, Matt Lank, and Cody Jay. The win improves the Flames’ regular season record to 12-4-8, good for 2^nd place in the league.

Much of the 1^st period was played in the neutral zone, with both teams playing some solid defense. There was no scoring, and the shots were 6-5 in favor of the Flames.

The first half of the middle frame brought much of the same, however Peters (Jay) broke free all alone with the goaltender and beat him with a deke to the backhand, giving the Flames a 1-0 lead. Penalties consumed the rest of the period, and the Flames were leading in shots 11-10.

The Flames turned the corner in the 3^rd period, when just under 3 minutes in Lank (MacDonald, Havenga) beat Pownal’s goaltender low stick side to add some insurance. Just under 2 minutes later, Jay (E. Handregan) buried one from in tight on the powerplay, adding some breathing room. Final shots favored the Flames 22-17.

The Flames will be back in action Friday night in Rustico, where they visit Gulf Storm. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:20pm, and players are asked to arrive one hour before game time.

There has also been a practice added to the schedule. This will take place Saturday morning at the APM Centre at 7:50am.

The schedule for the Bantam AA tournament in Summerside has been revised. All games take place at Credit Union Place in Summerside. Our games are as follows:

Friday Feb.13 at 6:20 pm @ CUP Arena vs Halifax Hawks

Saturday Feb.14 at 1:10 pm @CUP Arena vs Western Valley Spartans

Saturday Feb.14 at 7:00 pm @CUP Arena vs West Hants Warriors

Sunday Feb. 15 at 8:00 am @ CUP Arena Quarter Final #1

Sunday Feb. 15 at 8:00 am @ CUP IcePad Quarter Final #2

Sunday Feb. 15 at 10:00 am @ CUP Arena Semi Final #1

Sunday Feb. 15 at 10:00 am @ CUP IcePad Semi Final #2

Sunday Feb. 15 at 12:00 pm @ CUP Arena Championship 

On Wednesday night at the APM Centre, the JR’s Pizza Flames continued to roll along, defeating the Summerside Capitals 4-1. Ethan MacLean made 8 saves, and Zach Wilson continued his hot streak, adding his second hat-trick in as many games. Ethan Handregan scored the other tally for the Flames.

The Flames struck quickly to open the scoring when Handregan (O. Handregan, Hughes) buried a wrist shot from the slot just 38 seconds into the game. After this, most of the period was spent killing off penalties, and Summerside put one in the back of the net halfway through the frame. Shots after the 1^st were 6-6.

There was no scoring in the 2^nd period, and once again penalties were a factor. Shots after the middle frame were 11-9 for North River.

Needing a big effort to earn 2 points, Wilson (Muttart) scored a shorthanded marker 8 seconds into the 3^rd period. Wilson (Peters, Crozier) struck again with a bullet off the crossbar at the 3:22 mark. Once again, Wilson (Peters) scored his 30^th of the season and 3^rd of the night with 4:47 to play. The Flames did not allow a shot in the 3^rd, and the final tally was 29-9.

The Flames are competing in the Summerside Bantam AA tournament this weekend, and will open the tournament Friday night against the Chebucto Atlantics. Game time is 6:20pm, and players are asked to be at the rink no later than 5:20. With the threat of another impending snow storm, stay tuned in case of any cancellations or postponements. 

At the Cody Banks Arena on Saturday afternoon, the North River JR’s Pizza Flames defeated the Sherwood Falcons by a score of 4-0. Cedric Stead made 17 saves to earn his 4^th shutout of the season, and Zach Wilson scored a natural hat trick to lead the Flames offensively. Matt Lank added a single marker to round out the scoring. The win improves the Flames regular season record to 10-4-8.

Wilson (Peters) opened the scoring for the Flames 6:42 into the game on a wrist shot from just below the slot, giving the Flames first blood. With 2:31 to play in the period, Wilson (Crozier) struck again after coming out from behind the net and roofing one just before being knocked down. After the first period the lead was 2-0 and shots favored the Flames 12-6.

In the second period, Wilson (Peters, Crozier) finished off the hat trick from in close just over a minute in, giving the Flames a 3-0 cushion. With 3:30 to play in the period, Lank (MacDonald, Havenga) finished off some great puck movement on the powerplay to improve the lead to 4-0. Shots after the second were 27-10.

For most of the 3^rd period, the Flames were attempting to reach the 40 shot mark, as Head Coach Cameron MacMurdo had promised a pizza party upon this milestone. With 1:30 to play and 5 shots needed, the Flames were able to muster up the shots, with Lank hitting the target for #40. That was all the action in the 3^rd period, and final shots were 41-17 for North River.

The Flames will practice Monday morning, and are back in action at home on Wednesday night, when the Summerside Capitals come to Cornwall. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:20, and players are asked to arrive one hour before game time.

At the Simmons Arena on Friday night, the North River JR’s Pizza Flames benefited from a balanced attack of all lines contributing on route to a 6-2 victory over the Charlottetown Abbies. Ethan MacLean made 17 saves to earn the victory, and the goals came from Ben Peters, Lucas Muttart, Cody Jay, Ethan Handregan, Zach Wilson, and Matt Lank. The win improved the Flames regular season record to 9-4-8.

The Flames were first to strike 4:03 in when Peters (MacDonald, Wilson) banged in a loose puck after 4 chances in tight. The Abbies tied the game up with 3:18 to play in the period, but Muttart (E. Handregan, O. Handregan) answered with a wrist shot from the slot to give the Flames a 2-1 lead heading into the second period. Shots after 1 favored the Flames 14-4.

The second period brought about no scoring, as both teams found themselves killing off penalties for a good portion of the frame. Shots after 2 were 22-12 in favor of North River.

The Flames began firing on all cylinders in the final frame, with Jay (Roberts, Gauthier) sneaking in from the point and finishing off a great pass by Roberts from behind the net. Goals began to come often, beginning with 4:41 to play. Ethan Handregan (Jay, Gauthier) came off the bench and went in alone, scoring to the low far side of the goaltender. 28 seconds later, Wilson (Peters, Crozier) banked one in from a very odd angle, and 42 seconds after that Lank (Havenga) beat the goalie to make the score 6-1. The Abbies added a goal with 6 seconds to play, to make the final 6-2. Final shots were 36-19 for North River.

The Flames will be back in action tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon against the Sherwood Falcons. The game takes place at the Cody Banks Arena, and puck drop is scheduled for 3:45pm. Players are asked the be at the rink an hour before game time.

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames built a 3 goal lead only to see it slip away, resulting in a tie with the Montague Norsemen. The final score was 4-4. Cedric Stead made 19 saves in the game, and the Flames received scoring from Nick Havenga (2), Lucas Muttart, and Daniel Godfrey. The tie now sets the Flames record at 8-4-8.

In the first period, neither team was able to record a shot in the first 6 minutes. However, with 5:59 to play, the first shot resulted in a goal. Havenga (Peters, Crozier) tipped in a wrap around attempt to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. Just over a minute later, Montague tied up the game, also on their first shot. It took the Flames another two minutes to record another shot, and this shot also found the back of the net. Havenga (unassisted) beat the goaltender with a wrister from the top of the circle. Shots after the 1^st period were 4-2 in favor of Montague.

The Flames added another tally, this time from the stick of Muttart (Roberts, E. Handregan), increasing the lead to 3-1. Just under 3 minutes later, Godfrey (Roberts, Muttart) jammed home a rebound, giving the Flames a 4-1 lead and in the driver’s seat. These 4 goals came on just 5 shots. Montague added two goals before the second period was done, at the 6:00 mark, and also with 0:41 to play. Shots after two were 15-5 for Montague.

The third period brought about some defensive play from both sides, and the Flames were the first to blink. Montague tied the game up with 7:15 to play, and neither side was able to convert again. Final shots were 23-11 for Montague.

The Flames next action comes on January 31 (Saturday) against Montague once again. The game takes place at the Montague Wellness Centre, and puck drop is scheduled for 5:50pm. Players are asked to be at the rink no later than 4:50pm.

The JR’s Pizza Flames were defeated by the league leading Pownal Red Devils on Sunday afternoon at the Pownal Stadium. Final score was 5-1. Ethan MacLean made 22 saves in the game, and the goal scorer was Daniel Godfrey. The loss now puts the Flames regular season record at 8-4-7.

In the first period, the Flames were all over Pownal for the first 6 minutes, then Pownal scored their first goal on a bounce in front. 6 seconds later they came back down and added a second tally. Shots after the 1^st period were 12-4 in favor of the Red Devils.

The Flames cut the lead to 2-1 just over a minute into the second frame when Godfrey (Lank) banged one home from in tight. 26 seconds later Pownal regained the two goal lead, and added another marker 5 minutes later to take a 4-1 lead into the 3^rd. Shots after 2 were 19-14 for Pownal.

Only one goal came in the 3^rd period, Pownal scored a mere 15 seconds into the frame. Final shots were 27-19 for Pownal.

The Flames will be back on the ice tomorrow (Monday) morning for practice at 6:00am, followed by another practice at 8:30pm on Tuesday night. Both ice times take place at the APM Centre in Cornwall.

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames emerged victorious from a chippy affair with the Western Aces, the final score was 2-1. Cedric Stead made 20 saves in the win, goals came from Ben Peters and Ethan Handregan. The win improves the Flames regular season record to 8-3-7.

At the Credit Union Arena in Tignish, the Flames and Aces renewed hostilities from a few nights ago and started the physical play right away. After no real chances, Peters (Muttart) broke free from a defender and came in all alone on the goaltender and deked to the backhand to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. Shots after the 1^st period were 9-4 in favor of the Flames.

The second period brought about no scoring, but was filled with penalties. The Flames played much of the period shorthanded, killing off multiple infractions, including playing down two men on three occasions. Shots after 2 periods were 16-13 for the Aces.

In the 3^rd period, the physical play continued, and the Aces were finally able to solve Stead with just over 8 minutes to play. With 5:46 to go, Ethan Handregan (Havenga, Crozier) broke the tie with a low shot to the stick side, giving the Flames the 2-1 lead. The score held, and the Flames earned the 2 points. Final shots were 21-17 in favor of the Aces.

The Flames hit the road tomorrow (Sunday) to take on the league leading Pownal Red Devils. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:20pm, and players are asked to the at the rink by 3:20pm

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames scored a late goal to earn the edge over the Western Aces; final score was 3-2. Ethan MacLean made 7 saves to earn the goaltending victory, and the shorthanded Flames had goals from Connor Gauthier, Daniel Godfrey, and Cody Jay. The win improved the Flames regular season record to 7-3-7.

At the APM Centre on Wednesday night, the Flames were missing three regulars in Zach Wilson, Lucas Muttart, and Jackson Roberts; however, the team was able to overcome one of the stronger teams in the league with a total team effort. No goals were scored in the first period, but the Flames controlled the pace of the period throughout, having the edge in shots by a 12-2 margin.

The second period brought much of the same, and the Flames finally solved the Aces’ goaltending with 40 seconds to play. Gauthier (MacDougall, Havenga) knocked one in on a broken play to give North River the momentum going to the 3^rd period. Shots after 2 were 18-4.

In a back and forth 3^rd frame, the Aces tied the game with 8:04 to play. Just over two minutes later, Godfrey (Gauthier) roofed one from in tight to restore the one goal lead. 28 seconds later, the Aces came back down to tie the game once again. With the teams playing 4-on-4, Jay (Lank) scored his first Bantam AA goal in a very timely manner, with only 17.4 seconds to play. This proved to be the winning goal, giving the Flames a big win to start a very important stretch of games.

The Flames will be back in action against the Western Aces on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00pm. The team will be traveling together via bus, which is leaving the APM Centre at 12:30pm SHARP. If everybody could be there in lots of time that would be great.

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames lost a tightly contested semi-final game on Sunday morning to the host Montague Norsemen by a final score of 3-2. Cedric Stead made 24 saves in a losing effort, all while giving the Flames a chance to win the game. Goal scorers were Ben Peters and Zach Wilson.

Just 11 seconds into the game, Peters (Wilson) snapped one past the Montague goaltender to give the Flames a quick start. Montague answered back at the 2:08 mark of the period to slow the Flames momentum down. However, the Flames responded at the 9:47 mark when Wilson (Peters, Hughes) got one over the goal line just before the net came off its pegs. The Flames took a 2-1 lead into the 2^nd period while being outshot 10-3 in the opening frame.

The only scoring of the 2^nd period came at the 3:16 mark, when the Norsemen banged one home on a scramble in front of the net. The teams went to the dressing room tied at 2; shots favored Montague 17-8.

Montague scored a powerplay goal at the 3:48 mark of the 3^rd period after Stead lost his stick during another scramble in front of the net. The Flames attempted to push back and tie the game, but were shut down on many opportunities. Final shots favored Montague 27-11.

1^st star for North River was Wilson, and 2^nd star was Jackson Roberts. Most sportsmanlike player was Griffin Hughes.

The staff would like to congratulate the players on another great tournament; although it was a rough ending, there are lots of positives that can be taken from the weekend moving forward as we head into the final stretch of the regular season.

Due to a lingering sickness around the dressing room, there will be no practice tomorrow (Monday) morning. The Flames will be back in action come Wednesday night at the APM Centre, taking on the Western Aces. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:20, and players are asked to arrive by 6:20pm.

The Montague tournament schedule has been released and our games are as follows:

Thursday January 15 at 8:20 pm vs Charlottetown @ Northumberland Arena, Murray River

Friday January 16 at 10:20 am vs Sherwood @ 3 Rivers Sportsplex, Georgetown

Saturday January 17 at 8:50 pm vs Sussex @ Northumberland Arena, Murray River

Sunday January 18 Semi-Final (1 vs 4) at 11:30 am @ Northumberland Arena, Murray River

Sunday January 18 Semi-Final (2 vs 3) at 11:30 am @ 3 Rivers Sportsplex, Georgetown

Sunday January 18 Final at 4:05 pm @ Wellness Centre, Montague

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames finished off the round robin portion of the Montague tournament with a 2-0 victory over Sussex. The victory moved the Flames’ record to 3-0-0, finishing 1^st place overall. They will now face the host Montague Norsemen on Sunday morning in one of the semi-finals. Cedric Stead made 19 saves to earn his 3^rd shutout of the season and also 1^st star of the game. Ben Peters and Matt Lank scored for the Flames.

There was no scoring in the first two periods; two periods that were very physical, and controlled by the Flames. Shots after 1 were 7-5, and shots after 2 were 14-11. The Flames used the second intermission to calm themselves down and refocus on the goal of earning the two points and earning the top seed going into the playoff round.

Just over 2 minutes into the final period, Ben Peters (MacDonald) banged one home from the top of the blue ice to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. At the 7:43 mark of the period, right when a Flames penalty expired, Lank (MacDougall) was sprung on a breakaway and finished the chance to give the team some much needed breathing room the rest of the way. After some strong defense in the final minutes, the Flames hung on and kept the shutout in tact for Stead.

2^nd star of the game was Cody Jay, and the most sportsmanlike player was Brett MacDonald. Peters awarded Stead with the team player of the game helmet.

The semi-finals will take place Sunday morning at 11:30 back at the Northumberland Arena in Murray River. The other semi-final will see Cumberland take on Pownal, also at 11:30 in Georgetown. The final game will take place at 4:00pm at the Montague Wellness Centre. Players are asked to arrive for the semi-final game by 10:30am.

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames opened the Montague Norsemen Memorial Tournament with a statement, earning a 7-0 victory over the Charlottetown Abbies. Goals came early and often, and goaltender Ethan MacLean made 7 saves to earn his first shutout of the season. Goal scorers for North River were Zach Wilson (2), Connor Gauthier, Rowan Walsh, Ben Peters, Owen Handregan, and Matt Lank.

At the Northumberland Arena in Murray River, the Flames opened the scoring just 2:09 into the game. Gauthier (Peters) pounced on a loose puck beside the net to beat the Abbies goaltender. Just under 3 minutes later, Wilson (Jay) went shelf on a rebound to give the Flames a 2-0 cushion. At the 7:38 mark, Walsh (O. Handregan, E. Handregan) scored on a shot from the point, and just 21 seconds later Peters (Crozier) scored from in tight to give the Flames a 4-0 lead after the first period. Shots after 1 favored the Flames 16-3.

The first 10 minutes of the second period were very quiet, but with 49 seconds to play in the period, Wilson (Walsh, Roberts) finished off a nice pass from in tight to increase the lead to 5-0 and bring in straight time for the rest of the game. Shots after two periods were 23-7 for North River.

In the 3^rd period, the Flames continued to push forward, and added a 6^th tally at the 5:20 mark. Owen Handregan (Muttart) somehow managed to rainbow a puck over an unsuspecting Abbies goaltender. The Flames last goal came at 6:57 of the period, this time from Lank (MacDonald, Godfrey) sneaking one past the pad of the goalie. Final shots favored the Flames 32-7.

1^st star of the game for the Flames was Ethan MacLean. 2^nd star was Rowan Walsh, and the most sportsmanlike player was Matt Lank.

The Flames will be back in action tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10:20 at the 3 Rivers Sportsplex in Georgetown, where they will continue their tournament against the Sherwood Falcons. Players are asked to be at the rink by 9:15am, and to be ready to play in full gear by 9:50am.

The JR’s Pizza Flames defeated the Charlottetown Abbies on Wednesday night at the APM Centre by a score of 2-1. Cedric Stead made 9 saves to earn the victory. Goal scorers were Ethan Handregan and Ben Peters. The win improved the Flames regular season record to 6-3-7.

Charlottetown opened the scoring halfway through the first period on a defensive breakdown. No other scoring took place until the third period. Flames dominated in the shots department, leading 12-3 and 21-6 respectively in the first and second periods.

Handregan (O. Handregan, MacDonald) finally solved the Abbies goaltender 1:40 into the final frame. A few minutes later, the Abbies thought they had scored a powerplay goal, however after some discussion among the officials, the goal was waved off due to a high stick. North River capitalized on the break, and after dangling through all 5 Charlottetown skaters, Peters (unassisted) scored a highlight-reel solo effort tally to give the Flames a 2-1 lead. They would hold on the rest of the way to earn the victory. Final shots were 34-10.

The Flames and Abbies will face off once again tomorrow (Thursday) night to open the Montague tournament. The game will take place at the Northumberland Arena in Murray River, and puck drop is scheduled for 8:20pm. Players are asked to be at the rink by 7:15pm, and must be ready to play by 7:50pm as per tournament rules.

Wednesday night at the APM Centre in Cornwall, the JR’s Pizza Flames and Gulf Storm skated to a tie. The final score was 3-3. Goaltender Ethan MacLean stopped 17 shots, and made some timely saves to preserve the single point. Daniel Godfrey scored his first of the season and added another assist, while Lucas Muttart had two helpers. The tie moved the Flames regular season record to 5-3-7.

The Flames opened the scoring at the 6:56 mark of the first period on a Rowan Walsh (Peters) shot that fluttered its way into the net through a maze of bodies. That was the only scoring in the period, and shots were even at 6-6 after 12 minutes.

Gulf Storm tied up the game with 8:48 to play in the second period, however, 44 seconds later, Godfrey (Muttart) roofed a shot from in tight to give the Flames a 2-1 lead. Gulf Storm scored again to tie the game with 2:01 to play. Once again the Flames responded quickly, this time 24 seconds later. Owen Handregan (Muttart, Godfrey) finished off a nice passing play to restore a Flames lead. North River led 3-2 after 2 periods, and also led in shots to the tune of 17-12.

The Flames held off a strong Gulf Storm attack for most of the 3^rd period, however gave up the tying goal with 5:00 to play. With less than 2:00 to play the Flames were forced to kill off a 5-on-3 powerplay. They were able to do so to salvage a point.

The Flames return to action Friday night in Montague, where they will take on the Norsemen. Puck drop is at 8:20pm, and players are asked to arrive by 7:20pm.

Holiday Schedule

Practice Monday Dec. 29 @ 6:00 am @ APM Centre

Practice Tuesday Dec. 30 @ 12:30 pm @ APM Centre

Game Friday Jan. 2 @ 12:30 pm @ APM Centre vs Western

Game Saturday Jan. 3 @ 4 pm @ Tignish vs Western

Game Sunday Jan. 4 @ 6:40 pm @ North Rustico vs Gulf Storm

Practice Monday Jan. 5 @ 6 am @ APM Centre

The Bantam AA Flames traveled to Westwood Primary School in Cornwall on Friday, December 19 to read to several of the Grade 3 classes. The classes were divided into small groups and the boys read Christmas stories in French and English to the children. The students were very excited to see the boys - some of them asked for autographs and performed Christmas songs for the players! The boys did a great job and were very attentive and kind to the youngsters - we can all be proud of how they represented NRMHA and their community - they were true harbingers of the Christmas spirit! Well done boys!

The North River Bantam AA Flames 'Drive Away Hunger Campaign' was a huge success! The food collected during two home games in December added up to a total of 145 lbs! The food was delivered to the Food Bank in Charlottetown on Friday, December 19 by several team representatives. Thanks to all those that contributed food items to the drive and to the players and parents for their efforts. A huge thanks to Darryl Hughes who took care of most of the logistics and the 'heavy lifting'!

Great job Flames!

At Simmons Arena, The JR’s Pizza Flames and Charlottetown Abbies battled to a tie game; the final score 1-1. Zach Wilson scored the Flames goal, and Ethan MacLean made 12 saves in the game. The tie put the Flames regular season record to 4-3-4.

Charlottetown opened the scoring 2:18 into the game, after coming out hungry for their first victory of the season. The Flames controlled the play for most of the period, only to be stopped on numerous scoring chances. Finally, Wilson (Crozier) scored after some good work down low. The score after the first was 1-1, and shots favored North River 13-7.

The second and third periods brought much of the same, with the Flames having many chances to add a go ahead goal, but the Charlottetown goaltender was strong throughout. Shots after the second period were 25-9, and the final shots were 39-13.

The Flames are back on the ice tomorrow morning at the APM Centre for practice, and do not see any more game action until January 2^nd, 2015, where the Western Aces will visit the APM Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 12:30pm .

It's a time of giving!! The North River Bantam AA will have a food drive during their next two home games to collect items for the Food Bank during this holiday season. So please encourage family and friends to bring non-perishable food items to the APM Centre during our home games on Dec.10 (7:20 pm vs Montague) and Dec.17 (7:20 pm vs Sherwood). Darryl Hughes has graciously agreed to provide totes that we can use to collect the items and then haul them to the food bank.

Merry Christmas to all!

At the APM Centre, The JR’s Pizza Flames received a balanced attack to overcome a slow start in the opening period to dominate the Sherwood Falcons by a score of 7-1. Goaltender Cedric Stead made 11 saves to earn the victory. Matt Lank and Zach Wilson each scored twice, and the Flames received single tallies from Nick Havenga, Ethan Handregan, and Brett MacDonald. The win improved the Flames regular season record to 4-3-3.

Sherwood opened the scoring 5:16 into the game, putting the Flames in an early hole. Lank (Roberts, Godfrey) scored his first of the night with 0.2 seconds left in the period to give the Flames momentum going into the middle frame. Shots after the first were 12-2 for North River.

The Flames attack opened up in the middle frame, Havenga (unassisted) found his own rebound and buried a wrap-around chance 4:51 into the period. Lank (unassisted) jumped out of the penalty box and his wrister from a sharp angle found the back of the net with 2:45 to play in the period. 54 seconds later after a beautiful breakout from the North River end, Ethan Handregan (Muttart, O. Handregan) blasted a slapshot from just inside the blue line over the Sherwood goaltender’s right shoulder. With 10 seconds left, the Flames lead increased to 5-1 courtesy of Wilson (Havenga). Shots after two periods were 24-6 for North River.

50 seconds into the final period, MacDonald (Lank, Godfrey) scored his first of the season on a powerplay after sneaking past the Sherwood penalty killers. Finally, with 1:40 to play, Wilson (Peters, Crozier) somehow managed to rainbow a puck over the goaltender. Final shots were 41-12 for North River.

The Flames will be back in action Sunday night against the Charlottetown Abbies. The game will take place at the Simmons Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 5:45pm. Players are asked to be at the rink by 4:45pm in order to prepare.

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames defeated the Summerside Capitals by a score of 5-2 on Sunday night at the Credit Union Place in Summerside. Ben Peters led the way with a 5 point night, Zach Wilson chipped in with 2 goals, and goaltender Ethan MacLean made 15 saves to earn the victory.

North River opened the scoring 1:13 into the game, as Wilson (Peters, Gauthier) knocked one in from out front. Summerside evened the score at the 6:30 mark, leaving the teams tied 1-1 after the 1^st. Shots favored the Flames 12-7.

The Flames offence began to click in the 2^nd period, starting with a Peters (O. Handregan) goal 3:00 into the middle frame. Summerside replied 2:04 later to even the score, then the Flames took over. Wilson (Peters) added his second of the game from inside the slot, and with 1:03 to play in the period Peters (Hughes) found the back of the net on a nice deke. Shots after 2 were 26-16 for North River.

1:47 into the third period, the Flames extended the lead to 5-2 on a beauty from Connor Crozier (Peters, Havenga). The rest of the 3^rd period was a defensive battle, with both teams holding the other off of the score sheet. Final shots were 37-17 for the Flames.

The Flames will practice tomorrow (Monday) morning at 6:00am at the APM Centre, followed by a matchup with the Sherwood Falcons on Wednesday at the APM Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:20pm, and players are asked to be at the rink by 6:20pm.

At the Pownal Sports Centre, The North River JR’s Pizza Flames dropped their final round robin game to the TASA Ducks by a score of 3-1. Cedric Stead made 24 saves to give the Flames a chance to stay in the game. Zachary Wilson netted the lone goal for North River.

2:48 into the game, Wilson (Crozier) roofed a shot from in tight to give the Flames an early lead. Much of the opening frame was played in the neutral zone, and shots were 3-2 in favor of the Ducks.

TASA scored their first goal 1:51 into the middle period, and added another at the 5:50 mark to take a 2-1 lead. They would take this lead into the intermission; shots were 16-8 for the Ducks after the period.

The Flames struggled to gain any momentum and get many chances in the final period, and TASA added an insurance marker with 4:13 to play. Final shots were 27-10 in favor of the Ducks. North River’s player of the game was Stead, and the most sportsmanlike player was Garett MacDougall.

The loss put both teams at 2-1-0 for the tournament, with TASA finishing 2^nd in the pool, while the Flames finished 3^rd. This brings about a rematch in one semifinal game; the other game will see the Riverview Blues taking on the Cape Breton County Islanders.

The Flames and Ducks will face off tomorrow (Sunday) morning at 9:30 at the Simmons Arena in Charlottetown. Players are asked to be at the rink by 8:30 at the latest. The championship game will take place at 3:00pm back at the Pownal Sports Centre.

At the Simmons Arena in Charlottetown, the JR’s Pizza Flames defeated the Sherwood Falcons by a score of 4-1 Friday morning to open the Pownal Markan Hardwood Plus Memorial Tournament. Cedric Stead allowed 1 goal on 11 shots in the victory, and the Flames received tallies from Matt Lank (2), Ben Peters, and Zachary Wilson.

North River opened the scoring with 2:35 to play in the opening frame on a Lank (unassisted) wrister from the right circle. 1:08 later, Ben Peters (Wilson, Gauthier) added a second marker following a scramble off a well placed point shot. The Flames took a 2 goal cushion into the 1^st intermission, and outshot the Falcons 9-2 in the period.

The Falcons cut the lead to one on a shorthanded breakaway halfway through the second frame, but the Flames relentless attack neutralized Sherwood’s chances on the regular. Zachary Wilson (Peters) added a shorthanded marker of his own after a scramble in the blue paint to restore the Flames two goal lead with 1:40 to play in the second. Shots following two periods were 19-5 for the Flames.

The third period brought much of the same for the Flames, continuous pressure and lots of shots on goal. Lank (Jay) added his second marker of the morning with 5:12 to play in the game, giving North River a nice cushion the rest of the way. Final shots favored the Flames 35-11.

The Flames will be back in action tomorrow (Saturday) at 12:30pm against the Cape Breton County Islanders. This game will take place at the Pownal Sports Centre; players are asked be in gear and ready to play by 12:00pm, and to be at the rink by 11:15am.

The second game of the day for the Flames will take place at 8:40pm, where they will take on the TASA Ducks, also at the Pownal Sports Centre; players are asked to be ready to play by 8:10pm, and arrive at the rink by 7:20pm.

The JR’s Pizza Flames were defeated Wednesday night by the Pownal Red Devils to the tune of 4-1. The game took place at the APM Centre in Cornwall. The loss dropped the Flames to 2-3-2 on the season.

After a slow start to the game, the Flames opened the scoring on a goal by Matt Lank (E. Handregan, Godfrey) with 4:37 to play in the opening frame. A mere 13 seconds later, the Red Devils capitalized on a defensive lapse to draw even. Pownal added another goal with 2:46 to play in the period to take a 2-1 lead to the intermission. Shots in the period favored North River 7-5.

The second period was one filled with penalties, and some strong killing by the Flames; including 3 blocked shots from defenseman Rowan Walsh in the period. Pownal scored later on just after a penalty expired, taking a 3-1 lead with 1:47 to play in the period. Shots after 2 frames were 11-10 in favor of Pownal.

The third period was much more of the same, with untimely penalties derailing any momentum the Flames could muster. Pownal added an insurance marker with 4:45 to play, taking the score to 4-1. Final shots were 17-15 for the Red Devils.

The Flames will practice tomorrow morning at 6:00am at the APM Centre, followed by opening the Pownal Markan Hardwood Plus Memorial Tournament Friday morning at 10:00am against the Sherwood Falcons. This game will take place at the Simmons Arena in Charlottetown.

Hi folks,

Just a note on tonight's game against the Western Aces that was scheduled to take place at the APM Centre. It is now CANCELLED, with a makeup date to be announced sometime in the future.

The team will use the ice time as a practice time, but please use your own discretion and judgment on whether or not to attend as the time approaches. If conditions permit, we will still have a little cake for Chace, as this will be his last session with the team before he heads back to Alberta.

The Truro Bearcats emerged victorious over the North River JR's Pizza Flames in a semi-final game at the Grant Thornton Early Bird Tournament on Sunday morning. The final score of the game that took place at MacLauchlan Arena was 2-1.

The Bearcats dominated the play for the majority of the 1st period, but were blanked by Flames goaltender Cedric Stead who made 12 saves in the opening frame. North River was only able to direct 1 shot at the Truro goaltender.

The second period brought much of the same, and the Bearcats struck for two goals in a short span. The game became quite chippy following this, and that tone followed the rest of the way through. Through two periods, the Bearcats fired over 30 shots in the direction of Stead, while the Flames were once again held in check, having 3 total shots through 2 periods.

The 3rd period was more tightly contested, with the Flames beginning to keep the play in the Truro end, pressing for a goal to get back into the game. With 5:17 to play, a Rowan Walsh (Godfrey, Lank) point shot found its way through a maze of bodies to pull the Flames within one goal. After continuous pressure with an empty net, North River could simply not bury a tying goal. Final shots were approximately 45-8 for Truro. 

Rightfully so, Stead earned the Flames MVP award, while Walsh was the Most Sportsmanlike Player. The coaching staff would like to thank the players for their great effort throughout the tournament, and believe that lots of building blocks were created for future success in the rest of the season.

We are back on the ice tomorrow morning at 6:00am for practice, and the next game is a regular season contest against the league leading Western Aces. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:20pm on Wednesday, November 26 at the APM Centre in Cornwall. Players are asked to be at the rink by 6:20.

The Early Bird Tournament schedule has been released:

Game 1 Thursday Nov. 20 @ 7:30 pm @ MacLauchlan Arena B vs Charlottetown

Game 2 Friday Nov. 21 @ 9:15 am @ Eastlink Centre vs Summerside

Game 3 Saturday Nov. 22 @ 7:30 pm @ Simmons Sports Arena vs Western

Semi #1 Sunday Nov. 23 @ 11:45 am @ MacLauchlan Arena A

Semi #2 Sunday Nov. 23 @ 11:30 am @ MacLauchlan Arena B

Final Sunday Nov. 23 @ 4:00 pm @ MacLauchlan Arena A

The North River Flames earned a berth in the Grant Thornton Early Bird Tournament semi-finals by skating to a draw with the Western Aces. The final score of Saturday night's game was 1-1.

At the Simmons Arena, the Flames came out with the goal of advancing in the tournament and did just that. North River controlled the pace for the whole first period, outshooting the Aces by a 10-4 margin, with no goals coming from either side.

North River continued to dominate the game through the second period, however the Aces found the back of the net on a breakaway midway through the middle frame. Shots were 18-7 for the Flames, now facing a 1 goal defecit heading to the 3rd period.

It was do-or-die time for the Flames, and after a good start to the period, Zach Wilson (Peters, Crozier) evened the score, potting one from the top of the blue ice. Western mounted a late attack, but strong play from goaltender, and player of the game Ethan MacLean kept the Flames even, with the game ending in a tie.

The Flames will now play the Truro Bearcats at 11:45 in the second semi-final game, with Western taking on the East Hants Penguins at 11:30. Both games take place at the CARI Complex on the UPEI Campus. Players are asked to be at the rink at 10:15am.

Owen Handregan notched 4 points to lead the JR’s Pizza Flames to a 6-0 victory Friday morning over the Summerside Capitals. The victory improved the Flames record in the Grant Thornton Early Bird Tournament to 1-0-1 heading into a showdown with Western.

At the Eastlink Centre, Nick Havenga (O. Handregan, Roberts) opened the scoring midway through the first period with a shot from a sharp angle that fooled Summerside’s goaltender. The Flames outshot the Capitals by a 10-3 margin after 1 period.

The Flames came out guns blazing in the 2^nd period, with Handregan (Havenga, Muttart) increasing the lead to 2-0 1:52 into the middle frame. Owen was set up by twin brother Ethan for his second goal of the game at 4:11, and 40 seconds later, Handregan (Roberts, MacDonald) completed the natural hat-trick to pad the lead to 4-0. With 0:27 to play in the period, Jackson Roberts (Jay) added his first goal of the season to send the Flames to the dressing room with a 5-0 lead. Shots after 2 periods were 32-4 for North River.

The only scoring in the 3^rd period came with 1:05 to play, Connor Crozier (Peters, Walsh) finished off the Flames attack, completing the 6-0 victory. Cedric Stead made 7 saves to earn the shutout and his second consecutive victory, North River fired 35 shots at the Summerside goaltender.

North River’s player of the game was Owen Handregan, and most sportsmanlike player was Stead.

The Flames resume tournament play tomorrow (Saturday) night at 7:30 against Western at the Simmons Arena in Charlottetown. Players are asked to be at the rink for 6:00pm to prepare.

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames and the Charlottetown Abbies battled to a 3-3 draw tonight at the MacLauchlan Arena to open the Grant Thornton Early Bird Tournament. The Flames battled back from a 3-1 deficit after 2 periods to earn a crucial point.

Charlottetown opened the scoring 2:09 into the first period, and controlled the pace for most of the first period, holding a 7-2 lead in shots following the 1^st.

The Abbies added to their lead 0:56 into the second period, giving the team a much needed insurance marker following the Flames attack. At the 2:24 second mark of the period, Matt Lank scored the first Flames goal of the evening, trimming to Abbies lead to a single marker. The rest of the second period was evenly matched, however the Abbies added a third marker with 0:56 to play in the period, gaining a 3-1 advantage heading to the third period. Shots after 2 periods favored the Flames, 14-10.

The third period began with the Flames dominating the flow of the game; Connor Gauthier (Jay, Peters) got a shot through from the point and cutting the Abbies lead to 3-2 with 9:47 to play in the 3^rd period. Knowing the desperate need for the win or tie, the Flames continued to keep the puck in the Charlottetown end. After many chances, the Flames pulled goalie Ethan MacLean, and with a 6-on-5 advantage, Zach Wilson (Peters) knocked the puck in from a scramble in the crease to tie the game with 1:05 to play. The game ended in a draw, 3^rd period shots favored the Flames 20-2, with the total shots ending up 34- 12 for North River.

North River resumes tournament play tomorrow (Friday) morning against the Summerside Capitals at the Eastlink Centre at 9:15. Players are asked to be at the rink by 8:15.

The North River JR’s Pizza Flames got back in the win column tonight at the APM Centre against the Summerside Capitals by a score of 4-2. After holding period leads of 2-0 and 3-0, Summerside made it interesting, cutting the Flames lead to 3-2 with 1:18 to play. The Flames responded quickly, adding an insurance marker with 1:00 to play and held on for the victory.

Team captain Matt Lank (O. Handregan, Muttart) opened the scoring 7:09 into the game, beating Summerside’s goaltender with a well placed shot from just outside the slot. 1:22 later after some strong work down low, Ben Peters (Wilson) banged the puck across the line from the top of the blue paint, giving the Flames a 2 goal cushion. Shots in the first period favored North River 15-3.

2:02 into the second period, Zach Wilson (Crozier, Peters) snuck one past the goalie after more magic from behind the net by the trio, giving the Flames a much needed insurance marker. Spending most of the second period shorthanded, the Flames escaped with a 3-0 lead, shots after 2 were 19-7.

Summerside broke goaltender Cedric Stead’s shutout bid 3:20 into the 3^rd period, and notched a second marker with 1:18 left on the clock. Now with a 3-2 lead, the Flames did not panic and 18 seconds later, Lank (Peters) roofed a backhander for his second goal of the night. Final shots favored the Flames 29-11.

Following the game, head coach Cameron MacMurdo assessed: “I was very impressed with tonight’s showing; we had a great start and although we had some penalty trouble, I’m hoping we can continue this play into the Early Bird this weekend.”

The Flames will be back in action tomorrow (Thursday) night, opening Sherwood’s Grant Thornton Early Bird Tournament against the Charlottetown Abbies. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm at the CARI Complex (MacLauchlan Arena B) on the UPEI Campus. Players are asked to be at the rink by 6:00pm, and ready in their gear for 7:00pm.

There will be a parent's meeting to meet the coaches and discuss the season on Wednesday, October 22 at 6 pm. Following the meeting, there will be an exhibition game between North River and Pownal at 7:20 pm. This will allow the boys to get dressed while we meet.

See you all Wednesday!

Our first early morning practice will be held this monday at 6:00am.

See everyone bright and early tomorrow morning!

Our first early morning practice will be held this monday at 6:00am.

See everyone bright and early tomorrow morning!

Once agian we would like to thank everyone who came out to tryout.  We wish everyone the best of luck this upcomng hockey season.

The following players have been selected for the Bantam AA team:

Cedric Stead

Ethan MacLean

Cody Jay

Connor Gauthier

Nick Havenga

Brett MacDonald

Rowan Walsh

Griffin Hughes

Ethan Handregan

Owen Handregan

Ben Peters

Matt Lank

Lucas Muttart

Zach Wilson

Jackson Roberts

Connor Crozier

Daniel Godfrey

A reminder that the first ice time for the Bantam A groupwill be tomorrow (Saturday) at 5:20

A reminder to all invited to the jamboree that there will be a mandatory charge of $10 per player.

See everyone at the rink today! First game is at 4:50

The following players have been invited to participate in the Jamboree this upcoming Friday.

Zackery Chowen

Ethan Handregan

Owen Handregan

Ben Peters

Connor Gauthier

Nick Havenga

Griffin Hughes

  Dylan Cameron

  Carter MacFadyen

Matt Lank

  Lucas Muttart

Jackson Roberts

Zach Wilson

Cody Jay

Brett MacDonald

Garrett MacDougall

 Daniel Godfrey

Rowan Walsh

 Connor Crozier

Will MacPhail

Cedric Stead

Joe Hansen

  Ethan MacLean 

The coaching staff would like to thank all those that came out and participated in both the conditioning camp, and tryouts.  We wish everyone the best of luck this upcoming hockey season!

Reminder* - All players playing Friday are expected to show up to the rink an hour before game time, wearing dress pants, dress shirts, and dress shoes.  NO SNEAKERS or HATS

Also players should bring running clothes, for a pre warm-up run.

See everyone Friday!

Friday October 17 / 2014

4:50PM:  Charlottetown Abbies vs North River Flames

8:30PM:  North River Flames vs Pownal Red Devils

(All games will be played at the APM Centre)

*The final roster will be posted Friday night on our team page, following our final game*

The North River "Bantam AA" Flames will be holding tryouts at the APM Centre.  

The times are as follows:

Monday October 13/ 2014:  7:30 - 8:30PM

Wednesday October 15/ 2014: 6:50 - 7:50PM

(Following the 2nd tryout, we will complete the first round of cuts.  The selected players will be invited to participate in the Jamboree.)