It was a feel-good Bearcat weekend with a pair of wins, one on the road, one at home.
Friday the Bearcats were in Yarmouth for the first meeting of the season between these rivals. As expected it was highly competitive. Truro scored three unanswered goals in the opening period, then kept the Mariners off the board in the second. The Mariner push back in the third was significant. They scored two but were unable to get the equalizer. If shots on goal were accurate, the Mariners were busy in the Bearcat
zone. Once again, the only ones which count are the ones which go in.
Saturday, the Bearcats and Wildcats provided end to end action throughout the game. As it turned out, the last shot was the difference
maker. The Bearcats relinquished their slim lead in the third period but capitalized on a late power play opportunity to send the game into
overtime. Less than two minutes in, Truro got the chance and got the win. Penalties were costly, for both teams, in this game. Three of the
Wildcats’ four goals were scored on the power play. The Bearcats managed two in their four chances; however, teams don’t enhance their chances to win with players in the box.
The two wins place the Bearcats in a three-way tie, alongside Yarmouth and Valley, for top spot in the Division, each with sixteen points coming into this week.
Truro has the week to prepare for next weekends’ two road trips — Friday in Valley, Saturday in Yarmouth. The Bearcats should expect the best the opposition has to offer. It’s like playoff time in November.
The Bearcats had a new face in the lineup last week, eighteen-year- old Stellarton native, Lucas Canning, who spent two years with the Cape
Breton Eagles before opening this season with the Quebec Remparts. He brings skill, size, and experience.
Bearcat-of-the-Week honours went to Sam Archibald. Friday, he assisted on Merle Putman’s game winning goal, then Saturday, scored the
OT winner. He came through the Truro Bearcat Major Bantam, and Weeks Major programs before a rookie year with the Bearcats.
Debert, NS, 5’10, 161 lbs.
19yo, Forward
He split last season between the Charlottetown Islanders and Moncton Wildcats. In his eleven games this year, he’s scored 5 and assisted on 4 others.