RAMBLERS DROP HARD-FOUGHT 4-3 DECISION TO CRUSHERS

September 18, 2025 – New Glasgow, NS
The Amherst Ramblers battled back from a slow start but ultimately came up short in a tightly contested 4–3 loss to the Pictou County Weeks Crushers on Thursday night at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.

Pictou County came out firing, striking just 2:29 into the game with a power-play goal from MacLaughlin. They doubled their lead later in the period when Barrett found the net at 16:11 to make it 2–0. Amherst responded quickly. On the man advantage, Thomas Gagnon buried a goal at 17:54, set up by Owen Aura, cutting the deficit to 2–1 before the intermission.

Despite trailing, Amherst outshot Pictou County 15–8 in the first period, setting the stage for a gritty comeback effort.

Amherst found the equalizer midway through the second when Cooper Cormier scored at 12:48, with helpers from Dyke and Gaudet. The tie was short-lived, as the Crushers struck back late in the period. Stewart regained the lead for Pictou at 17:20, and less than a minute later, O’Donnell added a power-play tally to push the score to 4–2 heading into the third.

The intensity ramped up as both teams traded penalties and scoring chances in a physical second frame.

Down by two, the Ramblers pressed hard in the final frame and were rewarded with a second goal from Cormier, this time on the power play at 16:45, assisted by Gagnon and Aura. Amherst continued to apply pressure in the dying minutes, but Pictou County held strong defensively and closed out the win.

Despite the loss, the Ramblers showed resilience and fight — twice clawing back within one goal. The special teams units looked sharp, especially on the power play, and several players stepped up offensively.

Amherst will look to regroup and build on the positives when they return to the ice on Saturday, against the Truro Bearcats. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre