The Saint John Rapids continued their impressive start to the 2026 ECJLL season with a pair of convincing victories this weekend, defeating the Dartmouth Bandits 11-6 on the road on Saturday before defending home floor at the LBR with a 12-9 victory over the St. Margaret’s Bay Rebels on Sunday.
The two wins pushed the Rapids to 7-0 on the season and further demonstrated the offensive depth, balanced scoring, and resilience that have fueled their early success.
The weekend began Saturday afternoon at Shearwater Arena, where Saint John wasted little time taking control against the Dartmouth Bandits.
After Dartmouth opened the scoring, the Rapids responded with four consecutive goals in the opening period. Chase Aldridge tied the game before Felix Harding netted what would stand as the game-winning goal. Adam Brooks then scored twice in just 21 seconds to give Saint John a commanding 4-1 lead after the first frame.
The Rapids kept their foot on the gas in the second period. Nate Williams scored a shorthanded marker, Sawyer King added two goals, and Drew Mason, Adrien Mosher, and Jonah Bowie all contributed as Saint John built a 9-4 advantage heading into the third period. Mason was exceptional throughout the game, finishing with a goal and five assists for a six-point performance. Harding and Bowie each recorded three points, while Hudson Scaplen chipped in with two assists.
Saint John outshot Dartmouth 56-53 and received contributions throughout the lineup as Brooks, King, and Mason all delivered multi-point performances. The Rapids’ ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and generate offence from multiple sources proved to be the difference in the 11-6 victory. Ben Alchorn was a force on the back end and Ethan Rowbotham remained solid between the pipes.
Less than 24 hours later, the Rapids returned to the Lord Beaverbrook Rink to host the St. Margaret’s Bay Rebels in another highly entertaining contest.
The Rebels provided a strong challenge and repeatedly battled back throughout the game, but every time momentum appeared to swing, the Rapids found an answer.
Felix Harding opened the scoring less than 30 seconds into the game before Ben Rooney restored Saint John’s lead later in the first period to give the Rapids a 2-1 advantage after twenty minutes.
The second period featured an offensive explosion. Nate Williams scored shorthanded, Ben Alchorn and Sawyer King added goals, and Rooney, Ian Cassie, and Drew Mason all found the back of the net as Saint John erupted for six goals in the frame. Despite the Rebels continuing to push back, the Rapids carried an 8-5 lead into the third period.
The Rebels narrowed the gap several times in the final period, but the Rapids remained composed. Cedric Carr scored his first goal of the season, Harding netted the eventual game-winner, Mason added his second goal of the afternoon, and Adrien Mosher sealed the victory to secure a 12-9 win.
Mason once again led the offence with five points on two goals and three assists. Harding and Rooney each recorded three-point games, while Mosher contributed a goal and two assists. Carr, King, Alchorn, Williams, and Cassie also found the scoresheet in a balanced offensive effort. Ethan Rowbotham was strong in goal, making 34 saves on 43 shots to help preserve the victory. Tyler Weldon, Tripp Livingstone & Morgan MacKinnon dominated on defence.
What stood out most throughout the weekend was the depth of the Rapids lineup. Different players stepped up in key moments, special teams contributed with shorthanded goals, and the offence continued to produce at an impressive pace. Through six games, Saint John has established itself as the most dangerous teamsin the ECJLL, combining explosive scoring with a relentless work ethic and team-first mentality.
With two more victories in the books and momentum continuing to build, the Rapids now look ahead to the next challenge as they continue their pursuit of the club’s first ECJLL championship and a return to the Founders Cup as the host team in August.
