It’s Canadian Armed Forces’ Atlantic gold for the14 Wing Greenwood senior men’s Bombers – the fourth title in a row. The Bombers defeated the 12 Wing Shearwater Flyers 7-3 in Shearwater February 13, after winning their way through must-win quarter- and semi-finals.
Starting out in a hole February 10, Greenwood lost to Shearwater 10-1 in their opening game. Shearwater was up 4-0 by the end of the first period. In the second, Greenwood assistant captain Warrant Officer Evan Burchell scored a single, but Shearwater moved the score to 6-1. In the third, Shearwater scored again to take the 10-1 win.
There was better news in their evening game, as Greenwood took a 6-2 win over the 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown Warriors. Goals came from team captain Sergeant Dave Jenkins, Burchell (three), Warrant Officer Nicolas Hendsbee and assistant captain Captain Marc Roach.
February 11, in their last round robin game, Greenwood took a 3-1 loss to CFB Halifax. Greenwood’s goal from Warrant Officer Pier-Oliver Poulin. The loss put the Bombers as fourth seed into the next day’s quarter-final.
Treating February 12 as the day the tournament really started, team members said, the Bombers rematched against the Warriors in a must-win game – and it went well: a 4-2 win. Players kept things tight through the first period, with no scoring on either side. Greenwood advanced to 3-2 in the second period, with goals from Burchell, Hendsbee and Sergeant Luke Verran (on a power play). In the third, Burchell added an empty-net single.
In the evening must-win semi-final, the Bombers came in fire up to take on the Mariners – and it worked: a 7-4 win! Greenwood opened the scoring in the first period, on goals from Hendsbee and Verran, to take a 2-1 lead over into the second. Jenkins added a short-handed goal, with another from Hendsbee to make it 4-1 out of the second period. In the third, goals came from Jenkins, Birchell – another short-handed goal, and the final from Jenkins – a third, short-handed goal.
And, in the last must-win game of the tournament – the February 13 final, Jenkins opened the scoring for Greenwood in the first period, with Warrant Officer Jimmy Rose and Burchell (two) taking it to 4-2. Captain Trevor Porteous scored in the second to make it 5-2. In the third, Burchell added another two – a 4-goal game! – to get the 7-3 win.
During the post-game awards ceremony, the Bombers collected their gold medals, the trophy and Burchell was named the game MVP. Nationals will be held at CFB Borden March 21 to 27.
