When the dust settled, the Bearcats came out of the week with a win and a pair of losses.
Last Wednesday, it seemed Murphy’s Law was in effect for the Bearcats when everything that could go wrong, did, in a losing effort to the South Shore Lumberjacks. That however, would be unfair to the Lumberjacks who may have played their best game of the season. When you score seven goals on the road, you deserve to win. They did just that, even after the Bearcats tied things up. They kept scoring en route to their first win in four outings against Truro.
Friday, in Yarmouth, the game was even in all categories entering the final period. The Bearcats scored two quick ones to open that period, but the Mariners response was an emphatic four unanswered. Yarmouth increased the Standing gap between them, winning four of the six meetings to date. Both remaining games between them are scheduled in February, both in Truro.
Saturday, at home, the Bearcats opened up a three goal lead against the Pictou County Crushers and never looked back. That win gave Truro a 5-2 edge in wins against their arch rivals. On March 2, in New Glasgow, they have their final regular season meeting scheduled.
The Bearcats prepare this week for a two-game sweep to Northern New Brunswick, facing Campbellton on Friday and Miramichi on Saturday. Next Tuesday, February 7, Bearcats will host Miramichi in a make-up game. In their only meeting this year, the Campbellton Tigers defeated
the Bearcats in a Shootout at the RECC. They sit second in the Eastlink North Division with a record very similar to Truro’s. The Miramichi Timberwolves are fourth in that Division. The Timberwolves have the MHL’s leading scorer on the roster, as well as two others in the Top Ten. They will be a good test for the Bearcats.
So, coming into this week, the Bearcats sit in second spot in their Division, eleven points back of the Yarmouth Mariners and eight up on the Valley Wildcats. There’s no question the quest for positions is well underway and there is no such thing as a safe lead or a soft game.
Bearcat-of-the-Week honours went to first year forward, Carter McCluskey. He scored in all three games last week, including his second hat trick in 8 days. Since returning to the Bearcats from the Cape Breton Eagles on January 6, he’s tallied 9 goals while assisting on 3 others, giving him 21 points in his 14 Bearcat games played.
Grand Bay—Westfield, NB
5’10”, 160 lbs.
19, Forward