The Bearcats win in six. It has a nice ring to it; one many didn’t expect to hear.
The Bearcats and Ramblers entered last week, tied at two apiece with Game 5 slated for Amherst. A road win was a necessity, and it happened.
The Bearcats had a great start, before the Ramblers responded with four unanswered second period goals. Apparently a three-goal lead heading into the final frame isn’t a guarantee of anything.
The no quit Bearcats responded with three unanswered, forcing OT, then winning it early in the second OT. That was a great way to quiet the huge Rambler crowd.
The Bearcats were in the driver’s seat for the first time entering Game 6 (March 27) at the RECC. Win, and you move one; lose, and go back to Amherst.
It proved to be a tighter game until a turnover, whether forced or unforced, gave the Bearcats their chance. They capitalized and it proved to be enough en route to the 2-0 win and the right to advance to the Eastlink South Division
Beaverbank, NS
5’9”, 172 lbs
19, Forward
Finals against the Pictou County Weeks Crushers.
From this corner, the Bearcats impressed with their ability to hang around and never stop playing. In all six games, the Bearcats scored the games’ last goals in regulation time, even in the two losses.
They had a game plan and stuck to it. There were flat spots by times, but they kept returning to what worked—hard work.
The Divisional Finals between the Bearcats and Crushers is deep in history and tradition. The Battle of Mt. Thom is on again, and it should be a dandy.
In their eight head-to-head meetings this year, each had picked up four wins, and each knocked off opponents predicted to win. They both deserve to be here.
Usually, the teams are quite familiar with each other; however, they haven’t met since January 2 and well before the Trade deadline. Both teams are different now.
At the Trade Deadline, the Crushers acquired goalie, Thomas Fontaine from the Mariners, and defencemen Cory MacGillivary (Acadie Bathurst) and Dominic MacKenzie (Mooseheads). The offence was unchanged.
The Bearcats acquired Jack Milner (Mooseheads) and Rylan Benner (Thunder Bay) and defenceman, Eric Halliday (Blainville). Offensively, they added Jake Todd (Mooseheads), Isaac Arsenault (Campbellton), Benjamin de Jonge (Fredericton) and Eli Baillargeon (Shawinigan).
All have contributed to their respective teams, and each has been a good fit.
Playoffs start Thursday, April 3 at the RECC, then Saturday, April 5 in New Glasgow, then back at the RECC on Monday, April 7. All games are at 7:00 pm.
Bearcat-of-the-Week honours went to Jake Todd. He scored both goals in the shutout win over the Amherst Ramblers, sending the Bearcats to the Divisional Finals.