Belliveau scored the tying goal 2:49 into the final period and then scored the winner less than three minutes later as the Northeast Kings Titans defeated the Horton Griffins 5-3 to win the NSSAF Division 2 hockey championship in Amherst on Sunday afternoon.
“I knew that good things happen when you go to the net and that was what I was trying to do,” the Grade 12 student said April 3 of his game-tying goal that came with a Titans’ player in the penalty box. “I was just trying to get the puck to the net, hoping to make something happen. There was probably a little bit of luck scoring that goal.”
Belliveau would give the team its first lead of the game at the 5:29 mark when he scored on the power play, sitting untouched beside Horton goalie Ian McLean.
Luke Russell would add some insurance at the 12:40 mark, his third goal of the game.
“It’s an unreal feeling,” Belliveau said. “We have a special group of players in that dressing room. The boys came together between the second and third periods and we realized for the seniors this is our last period of hockey.”
Jonah Vidito, Kyle Keddy and Braden Gauthier each added two assists in the game while Belliveau had one.
Zach Mason earned the win in goal.
“It was a such a long season and we have had quite a battle with Horton all season. It’s nice to see seven months of hard work come to an end like that,” Titans coach Colin Duncan said.
The teams met in the division and regional finals, too.
“Both teams worked so hard and it was a great way to end it.”
Duncan said he asked his players if they could score two goals in the third period and every player said yes.
“All year it seemed like we always went into the third period with a one-goal lead on Horton and it was sort of different in that we didn’t feel the pressure on us to hold the lead,” he said. “We said to ourselves let’s just play a 15-minute game, score two goals and win.”
Duncan said the experience his team had from winning last year helped when it counted. Thirteen of this year’s players were on the team last year and 12 will return for next season.
“That experience came through when we needed it most,” he said.
Cordy Burghardt scored once and had an assist for Horton High, while led 3-1 early in the second period, while Stuart Kennie and Carter Davidson each scored once. Davidson and Jake Gordon added single assists.
Ian MacLean suffered the loss in goal.
Northeast Kings defeated the host Amherst Regional High School Vikings 5-2 in one semifinal on Saturday night while Horton defeated the Dalbrae Academy Dragons 3-2 in the other semifinal.
The Titans opened the six-team event on Friday with a 5-0 win over Dalbrae Academy and defeated West Kings 2-1 in their final round robin game. Horton opened with a 6-1 win over Eastern Shore on Friday and followed that up with a 4-2 win over Amherst.
West Kings also played Dalbrae Friday, losing 3-1. Tyler Kennedy and Bryce Oliver were the Warriors' goal scorers during the tournament; Jacob Jay had two assists.
Belliveau scored the tying goal 2:49 into the final period and then scored the winner less than three minutes later as the Northeast Kings Titans defeated the Horton Griffins 5-3 to win the NSSAF Division 2 hockey championship in Amherst on Sunday afternoon.
“I knew that good things happen when you go to the net and that was what I was trying to do,” the Grade 12 student said April 3 of his game-tying goal that came with a Titans’ player in the penalty box. “I was just trying to get the puck to the net, hoping to make something happen. There was probably a little bit of luck scoring that goal.”
Belliveau would give the team its first lead of the game at the 5:29 mark when he scored on the power play, sitting untouched beside Horton goalie Ian McLean.
Luke Russell would add some insurance at the 12:40 mark, his third goal of the game.
“It’s an unreal feeling,” Belliveau said. “We have a special group of players in that dressing room. The boys came together between the second and third periods and we realized for the seniors this is our last period of hockey.”
Jonah Vidito, Kyle Keddy and Braden Gauthier each added two assists in the game while Belliveau had one.
Zach Mason earned the win in goal.
“It was a such a long season and we have had quite a battle with Horton all season. It’s nice to see seven months of hard work come to an end like that,” Titans coach Colin Duncan said.
The teams met in the division and regional finals, too.
“Both teams worked so hard and it was a great way to end it.”
Duncan said he asked his players if they could score two goals in the third period and every player said yes.
“All year it seemed like we always went into the third period with a one-goal lead on Horton and it was sort of different in that we didn’t feel the pressure on us to hold the lead,” he said. “We said to ourselves let’s just play a 15-minute game, score two goals and win.”
Duncan said the experience his team had from winning last year helped when it counted. Thirteen of this year’s players were on the team last year and 12 will return for next season.
“That experience came through when we needed it most,” he said.
Cordy Burghardt scored once and had an assist for Horton High, while led 3-1 early in the second period, while Stuart Kennie and Carter Davidson each scored once. Davidson and Jake Gordon added single assists.
Ian MacLean suffered the loss in goal.
Northeast Kings defeated the host Amherst Regional High School Vikings 5-2 in one semifinal on Saturday night while Horton defeated the Dalbrae Academy Dragons 3-2 in the other semifinal.
The Titans opened the six-team event on Friday with a 5-0 win over Dalbrae Academy and defeated West Kings 2-1 in their final round robin game. Horton opened with a 6-1 win over Eastern Shore on Friday and followed that up with a 4-2 win over Amherst.
West Kings also played Dalbrae Friday, losing 3-1. Tyler Kennedy and Bryce Oliver were the Warriors' goal scorers during the tournament; Jacob Jay had two assists.
