In an exciting back-and-forth game at Mariners Centre in Yarmouth, N.S., the Eastlink South defeated the Eastlink North 5-4 in overtime at the 2025-26 MHL All-Star Game, presented by Maritime Sleep Clinic.
Spencer Caines of the West Kent Steamers started the scoring at 3:15 of the 1st period with assists to the Edmundston Blizzard’s Darien Thomson and Luke Orr of the Campbellton Tigers. The South tied the game before the end of the period, however, as Summerside Western Capitals’ defenseman Simon Mullen snapped a low shot past Edmundston’s Cedric Massé for a 1-1 score. Assists went to his Summerside teammate Ethan Dickson and Aidan Bent of the Valley Wildcats.
The South got off to a quick start in the 2nd period with three goals in the first four minutes of play. The Ramblers’ Mark Corbett scored at 49 seconds, with an assist from Mullen and his Amherst teammate Anthony Gaudet. An all-Yarmouth connection made it 3-1 at 3:29 of the period as Justin Garneau scored with assists from Jared Pitman and Jan Zambakdijan. Then it was three Crushers players combining for a goal eighteen seconds later as Logan Crosby scored with assists from Cory MacGillivray and Will Allen.
The goaltenders changed midway through the second period. Massé allowed four goals on nineteen shots, while Keegan Warren of the hometown Yarmouth Mariners stopped seventeen of eighteen shots he faced.
The North quickly jumped on Truro Bearcats goaltender Louca Connolly, as Grand Falls Rapids forward Loïc Francoeur finished off some great passing from Miramichi’s Alexis Doucet and Edmundston’s Zachary Robichaud to cut the lead to 4-2 heading to the 3rd period.
Jonah Leard of the Grand Falls Rapids made it a 4-3 game at 13:33 of the 3rd period with assists from Chaleur’s Ben Cross and Campbellton’s Caleb MacDonald. Tigers’ goaltender Niko Boudreau was stellar in goal for the North, making a number of key saves to keep the score within reach. With their net empty and after the South missed two opportunities to score an empty net goal due to offside calls, Doucet tied the game with just 37 seconds left to force overtime. Assists went to Cross and his Chaleur teammate Cohen McCallum.
In the overtime period, the Eastlink South forced a turnover in the defensive zone to set up a 2-on-1 back the other way, where Crosby found Allen, who beat Boudreau with a low shot for the winner.
Allen of the Crushers and MacDonald of the Tigers were named the Player of the Game for their respective teams, with an on-ice presentation from MHL Commissioner Matt Moore.
