The Nova Major Bantams were back on the ice after the Thanksgiving break looking to take four points on the weekend to maintain their position in the 2014-15 Nova Scotia Major Bantam Hockey League Standings.  “We know going into this weekend, we have to be on top of our game in all areas of the ice,” said head coach Kyle MacDonald. “The boys have been working hard to shore up our neutral zone play, and cut down on the number of times we turn the puck over.  We have been steadily improving our play on the defensive side of the puck every game.  I really feel that our team is coming together well and the coaching staff is looking forward to a couple of strong games this weekend!”  In a Saturday evening tilt at the Antigonish Arena, the boisterous crowd was treated to a real beauty as the Novas and the Bedford Barons put on a display of skill and teamwork with the home squad finally prevailing in a 4-3 shootout decision.  Malcolm MacEachern and Jacob Hudson spotted the home squad a 2-0 first period lead with the assists going to Logan Timmons and Liam MacKinnon, but the Barons roared back early in the second to knot the game at 2.  Some sparkling goaltending by the Novas Colton Ellis ensured the game remained deadlocked at 2 until the third when Chase Ellis finished off a beautiful rush to put the Novas ahead by one on a slick pass from Jacob Hudson.  The Barons squared the game at 3 near the 11 minute mark of the third with neither the the rest of the third nor the five minute OT solving anything!  Hudson and Timmons both scored in the shootout to grab the extra point for an exciting 4-3 Novas win.  Unfortunately, on Sunday, the Novas couldn’t muster that same effort and dropped a 4-1 decision to the Landworks Gulls.  Jacob Hudson scored the only goal for the Novas assisted by Logan Timmons and Malcolm MacEachern.  Kolby Baker played a very strong game for the Novas on Sunday making a number of highlight reel saves in stopping 30 of the 33 he faced.  “We had a strange weekend,” said Coach MacDonald.  “We were excited to play the Barons on Saturday and I thought we played one of our best games of the year against a well-coached, big, and skilled team.  Then we came out flat on Sunday.  I was hoping we would have had some more jump on Sunday but it happens and we just have to learn how to deal with it”  The Novas spend the next two weekend on the road and next see action at home when they face the Pro Hockey Life Harbour Storm at the Antigonish Arena on November 15.