The Eastlink North team played just one game on the opening day of the tournament, losing 3-2 in a shootout to the CCHL Yzerman team. Campbellton Tigers defenseman Ryan Hackett opened the scoring at 7:14 of the first period, with assists from Tigers teammates Kiefer Lyons and Justin David. The CCHL side pulled even at 15:30 and then took the lead with a powerplay goal at 17:53.
They outshot the MHL team 18-9 in the 1st period, mainly due to three powerplays. In the 2nd and final period, Miramichi forward Will Allen scored on the powerplay at 5:35 to tie the game with assists from Fredericton’s Slava Melikov and Grand Falls’ Dominic LeBlanc.
The MHL would outshoot the CCHL 13-9 in the period, but the game was off to a shootout where the Yzerman squad scored the only goal to pick up the victory. Edmundston’s Nicholas Sheehan had 25 saves in the loss.
The Eastlink North will face the QJHL Perron team at 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, followed by the OJHL Hawerchuk team at 6:20 p.m.