LOCAL SPORTS
The X-Men Hockey team were eliminated from the playoffs following a 4-2 loss to the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus. The loss marks the first time the X-Men have not advanced to the semifinals since 2014 when they were eliminated 2-0 by the same Moncton squad. The Aigles Bleus advance to play first place UNB in a best-of-5 semifinal series. Saint Mary’s defeated UPEI 2-0 in the other AUS quarterfinal series and will play Acadia.
In AUS Basketball, St. FX is in Halifax to play the Saint Mary’s Huskies. The women tip off at 6, the men at 8.
In the Junior B league, the Antigonish Bulldogs lost 4-1 to the Junior Miners. The Junior Miners will host the Strait Pirates in Membertou tonight at 7:30.
In the Maritime Hockey League, the Pictou County Weeks Crushers visit the Mariners Centre to play Yarmouth at 7:30.
The Cape Breton West Islanders host Cole Harbour in Port Hood tonight at 6; later, the Weeks Major Midgets play Steele Subaru in Dartmouth. Game time 7pm.
In Major Bantam action, the Wearwell Bombers play the Storm at the Wellness Centre at 5 tonight; also, the Novas are at the Halifax Civic Arena to face off with ACCEL Physio at 5.
The Cabot Highlanders tangle with the Kings at 6 tonight in Port Hawkesbury.
The Dr JH Regional Royals Boys hockey team skated to a 4-3 overtime win over the North Nova Gryphons on Friday night in Trenton. Scoring for the Royals were Brody McLaren, Kinnon Wallace, and Craig Landry, with Seth Mattie scoring the OT winner. The Royals continue tournament action today against Northumberland at 2:00 pm at the Trenton arena.
It’s Playoff time in the Rural League – tonight it’s the first game of the best-of-seven between Pleasantdale & Heatherton at 7pm, followed by Outlaws vs St Croix at 8:30. Both games are at the Antigonish Arena.
Phast swim team are hosting the Nova Scotia AA winter championships this weekend in Antigonish. After the first day of competition, several members won medals:
Mariah Austien- Gold In the 200m Backstroke
Jacob Pinkohs- Silver in the 50m Fly
Cein Kennedy- Silver 800m Freestyle
Lily Maclean- Gold 100m Breaststroke and Bronze 400m IM
Emma Crispo- Bronze 100m Breaststroke
Chase Copper- Gold 50m fly and Bronze 200m freestyle
Sophie Hannah-Gold 400m IM
Wil Grover – Gold 50m Fly
Pictou County is hosting Team Germany in the lead up to this year’s World Women’s Hockey Championships in Halifax and Truro. Team Germany will hold a training camp March 23-29. The team will practice at the Wellness Centre in New Glasgow. Practice will be daily from 10 am to Noon, and open to the public. The team will also play an exhibition game while in Pictou County. A more detailed schedule will be announced early next month. The World Championship runs from March 31 to April 10.
NATIONAL SPORTS
There will be a familiar face at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Jennifer Jones advanced to the main draw of the Canadian women’s curling championship with an 8-7 win over Tracy Fleury in the wild-card game. Jones will play in the Scotties for the 15th time in her career.
Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian was suspended seven games by the N-H-L for kicking an opponent in the chest. Kassian swung his right leg and kicked Tampa Bay forward Erik Cernak in the chest during the Lightning’s 3-1 win Thursday night.
The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to cut into the Washington Capitals’ lead in the N-H-L’s Metropolitan Division. Newly-acquired forward Jason Zucker scored his first two goals as a Penguin to lead a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal’s Tomas Tatar got a goal in between Zucker’s two scores.
Jets forward Kyle Connor rang the puck off the post late in the third period as the San Jose Sharks held on for a 3-2 win in Winnipeg. Connor scored his team-leading 29th goal of the season earlier in the game and Blake Wheeler had a goal and assist for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 32 shots for Winnipeg,
The N-B-A’s All-Star Weekend tipped off in Chicago with the Rising Stars Challenge, featuring the league’s rookie and second-year players. Miles Bridges poured in 20 points and took M-V-P honours as the United States beat the World 151-131. Knicks forward R-J Barrett of Mississauga, Ontario, led the World with 27 points, and Washington’s Brandon Clarke, a Vancouver native, scored 22.
Friday’s Games
NHL
Pittsburgh 4 Montreal 1
Carolina 5 New Jersey 2
N.Y. Rangers 3 Columbus 1
San Jose 3 Winnipeg 2
NBA – 2020 Rising Stars Challenge
Team USA 151 Team World 131
Saturday’s Games – All Times Eastern
NHL
Detroit at Boston, 1 p.m.
Nashville at St. Louis, 3 p.m.
Edmonton at Florida, 4 p.m.
Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m.
San Jose at Minnesota, 5 p.m.
Dallas at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Los Angeles vs. Colorado at Falcon Stadium, 8 p.m.
Chicago at Calgary, 10 p.m.
Washington at Arizona, 10 p.m.
N.Y. Islanders at Vegas, 10:30 p.m.