Ramblers Look To Cap Winning Month

2010-01-29


The Ramblers look to end the month of January on a positive note with a win over the Tigers. Come out and cheer on the boys!!!

The Ramblers are well aware of the trap they could be walking into Saturday.
On the surface, it looks like the closest thing to a sure two points the bordertowners will earn in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League this season — a home date with the Campbellton Tigers, who have won just six times in 39 games this season and will be playing their third game in four nights when they arrive Saturday at the Stadium at 7 p.m., to face a host club that has had a week’s worth of rest.
But for Amherst, on the verge of its first winning month since September (the Ramblers are 5-4 in January), there are no gimmies as the race for a Bent Division playoff berth  heads into the homestretch.
“We had this conversation before practice Tuesday,” Ramblers head coach and general manager Corey Crocker said. “Campbellton is a good, young team building for the future and has been in a lot of the games they’ve lost. They’re not going to be outworked.”
It’s only the second time these teams have met this season. Amherst won 3-1 in Campbellton on Oct. 23, and that game was tied 1-1 through 40 minutes. The Tigers rallied from a 3-0 third-period deficit to defeat the Dieppe Commandos 5-3 on Sunday, and only trailed the powerhouse Woodstock Slammers 3-2 midway through the third Wednesday before succumbing 6-3.
“We definitely can’t take this game for granted,” Ramblers defenceman Wes Herrett said. “They’re a young team with nothing to lose.
“But these are the games you have to win if you want to make the playoffs. You have to get two points against teams that are below you in the standings.”
Crocker said he will have a full lineup at his disposal. Jonathan Pardy is expected to return after missing last Saturday’s 5-4 overtime win over Summerside with concussion-like symptoms.
The Ramblers got some help Thursday as the Halifax Lions and Yarmouth Mariners lost. Amherst remains four points behind Halifax and Bridgewater, and two up on last-place Yarmouth in the Bent.

jjewers@amherstdaily.com