The twenty-seventh Truro Bearcat season is almost upon us.
They’re all different but this one will have a very different beginning, on several fronts.
Just weeks ago, Shawn Evans resigned, ending a twenty-one-year run as Head Coach. It was
a great run, with four MHL Championships, Multiple Provincial titles, a Fred Page Cup crown,
and a trip to the nationals.
He set a performance standard unmatched in the MHL. He leaves to apply his craft in the
Quebec Major Junior League, as Assistant Coach of the Gatineau Olympiques – all the best.
In just a few short weeks, Bearcat Management completed its vetting process naming a new
Head Coach and an Assistant.
Former Bearcat Captain, and Assistant Coach with the Bearcats from 2016-2021, Joel Isenor,
has been granted bench boss responsibilities. He’s ready for the task.
Isenor became Truro’s fourth Head Coach since the club returned to the junior ranks in the
1997-1998 season.
Troy Fougere returns to the team as Assistant Coach, a position he held in the team’s
inaugural season, and again from 2000-2016.
Ryan Porter, former Bearcat and Coach of the Fundy Thunder the past two years, was named
an Assistant Coach prior to Evans’ departure.
Each of the three has been part of Bearcat championships and knows full well what it takes to
get there.
From this corner, it looks like a solid mix ready to continue the level of excellence expected
of Bearcat teams.
The MHL is in the process of naming a President after the resignation of Troy Drumville,
who has elected to pursue full time scouting duties with the Winnipeg Jets.
For sure this is an appointment that should not linger on beyond the start of the season next
month. The job description focuses on innovation and development.
The Divisional alignments have undergone a major change with the sale of the South Shore
Lumberjacks to an ownership group in Bouctouche, NB.
The West Kent Steamers will play in the Eastlink North Division. The Summerside Capitals
became the sixth team in the South Division.
That’s the goods on three major MHL stories of the off-season.