The NKEC Titans following their regional championship win. Team members include Dylan Woolaver, Logan Bishop, Justin Allen, Shane Connell, Kyle Keddy, Myles Troop, Riley Hardy, Riley Matheson, Drew Russell, David Sheffield, Tim Longley, Braden Gauthier, Henk Ueffing, Colin Beckwith, Noah Turner, Tanner Ward, Dylan Troop, Ian Belliveau, head coach Colin Duncan, assistant coaches John Curry, Joe Keddy and Derek Atwater, manager Arron Ward and equipment manager Luke Clarke. - Submitted
The NKEC Titans boys’ hockey team are Western Region champs and will host the NSSAF D-2 boys’ provincials in Canning March 21-23.
The D-2 boys’ regionals were held March 2-3 in Barrington. NKEC and the host Barons met in the regional final, with the Titans scoring a 4-1 victory on goals by Henk Ueffing, Logan Bishop, Riley Matheson and Justin Allen.
Even though they already knew they would be hosting provincials, victory was by no means certain for the Titans. In fact, when NKEC and Barrington had met in the round robin earlier in the day, the Barons won 7-1.
“We knew that one more loss would have us out of the tournament, and hosting provincials without deserving to be there,” said NKEC head coach Colin Duncan. The ultimate goal, he added, “was to win regionals so no one could doubt our participation in provincials.”
On the opening day of the four-team tournament, Barrington doubled CK 4-2, and NKEC outscored West Kings 5-3. That evening, West Kings edged Barrington 3-2, and NKEC improved to 2-0 by nipping CK by the same score.
On March 3, West Kings blanked CK 4-0, eliminating the Gators, and Barrington defeated NKEC 7-1.
Duncan said it was “a wonderful surprise, after losing that third game, to bounce back and win the next two.”
NKEC and West Kings met in the semifinal, with the Titans prevailing by a 2-1 score to advance to the final.
Duncan described the event as “very competitive, with every team having the opportunity to win. Any one of the four could have come home with the regional banner.”
The Titans played three times in less than seven hours during the tournament “and got better each period we played,” Duncan said.
“It was nice to win as a team and not rely on a few key players. Everyone worked as a team, and this was a great way to prepare for provincials.”
The Titans have just two graduating players this year, Tanner Ward and Dylan Troop, both of whom “led by example” at regionals.
NKEC will now shift gears to prepare for provincials, with the opening ceremonies scheduled for March 21 at 8 p.m.
Provincials will also be a four-team tournament, featuring the winner between Barrington and Eastern Shore, two teams from Dalbrae, East Hants or Northumberland, and the host Titans, now champions of their region.
