Jason La Rose
The East Coast Blizzard went down to the wire to clinch first place in the NLMMHL, sweeping the St. John’s Maple Leafs on the final weekend to finish with a three-point cushion atop the standings. The Blizzard came out of the gate strong, winning 10 of their first 11 games, and posted nine victories in its final 12 to take top spot. The offence was good, with Nathan Kelly (second in the league with 14-24—38) leading the way, but it was the defence that excelled – Andrew d’Entremont fashioned a 13-2 record with a league-leading 1.67 GAA and .945 save percentage.
PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS 1) East Coast Blizzard vs. 4) Tri Pen Osprey 2) St. John’s Maple Leafs vs. 3) Western Kings
FINAL STANDINGS (W-L-OTL) East Coast – 44 points (22-10-0) St. John’s – 41 points (20-11-1) Western – 25 points (12-19-1) Tri Pen – 23 points (10-19-3)
LEADING SCORERS Luke Akerman (Tri Pen) – 27G 22A 49P Regan Seymour (St. John’s) – 15G 23A 38P Nathan Kelly (East Coast) – 14G 24A 38P Mark Rumsey (Tri Pen) – 15G 15A 30P Brandon Knight (St. John’s) – 16G 12A 28P
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE 2011 (St. John’s Privateers – sixth place)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES (since 1984) 8 (1986, 1989 (host), 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 (host))
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP none (best finish: bronze medal – St. John’s Maple Leafs, 2003; St. John’s Fog Devils, 2010)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS none