The last day of one series is the first day of the next.
That’s the way it seemed for the Truro Bearcats and Summerside
Capitals who finished Round One successfully while the Round Two
opponents, Yarmouth and Edmundston, rested awaiting completion of
those series.
The four participating teams in Round Two were the top four after
regular season play. In order were Yarmouth, Edmundston, Summerside
and Truro.
The Bearcats and Mariners have a history of playoff combat,
meeting last in 2019. In eight meetings this season, the Mariners had
won five.
The Mariner team’s performance this season was recognized in
many ways. The goaltending tandem was awarded the Young-Knickle
trophy for allowing fewest goals.
One defenseman, one goalie and two forwards were named to the
Eastlink South All-Star team. Bearcat defenseman, Brendan Bays and
forward, Nick Mahar, from the Crushers, joined them.
In Saturday’s opener in Yarmouth, the Bearcats opened the scoring
one minute into the game. The Mariners got that one back, then added
six more over the course of the game to win 7-1.
Two of the Mariner goals came with the man advantage. Clearly
that’s not a team which should be awarded powerplay opportunities. The
Mariners had an impressive 24.5 powerplay percentage over the season.
In Truro on Monday, the Mariners continued to demonstrate their
scoring prowess, picking up goals in each period enroute to a 5-0
shutout. They played a team game from start to finish.
Their attack was relentless and there’s no question it zapped the
Bearcats. Truro’s bench shortened as the game went on, as well.
At times in Game Two it appeared that if not for bad luck the
Bearcats would have no luck at all. Two unfriendly goal posts in the
same sequence of plays spelled it out.
Game Three is set for Wednesday in Yarmouth while Game Four
goes Saturday at the RECC. If necessary dates are April 10 th , April 12 th
April 14th .
The Bearcats are a team that can battle. A break can make a
difference, taking an opponent out of its comfort zone.
Let’s look for that to happen.
Bearcat-of-the-Week honours went to goalie Connor Martin. He
played the last five games in Round One, coming away with four wins to
lead the Bearcats to the Divisional Finals to meet the Yarmouth
Mariners.