Obviously there is nothing wrong with starting the season on the road.
Successful teams need wins on the road. The plan is to keep things simple; keep things close, and find a way to come home with the points.
That recipe worked for the Bearcats last Saturday in St. Stephen. They played well enough for the victory and have the two points to prove it.
There were plenty of early season positives and plenty of areas needing attention as the Bearcats, like all MHL teams, work toward getting the teams playing their games.
For the Bearcats, eight rookies, have their initial junior game in the books. Adjustment to this level varies from player to player and it is good the process is underway.
Late last week the Bearcats added junior experience and depth to the forward game via a MHL trade. Again, the Bearcats did not relinquish a roster player or any on the protected list.
Practices this week focus on getting better as a team, improving puck management and getting ready for the twenty-second home-opener. These games are always special, but this year’s tribute to the Humboldt Broncos adds another dimension.
All 133 member teams of the CJHL will pay tribute to this team and its tragic accident, April 6, 2018. The crash killed ten players, two coaches, a trainer, a statistician, a broadcaster and the bus driver. A banner “We Play For Them” will be unveiled in every Junior “A” home rink in Canada.
The Valley Wildcats are in town Saturday to face the Bearcats in the home-opener (7:00 pm at the RECC). The Wildcats missed out on post – season play last year and the goal is not see a repeat of this.
That team has a solid nucleus returning and has been busy in the off-season bulking up. The teams split pre-season games, each with an OT win.
Next Wednesday, the Bearcats host the Amherst Ramblers, now in their 51 st consecutive season. Hosting this year’s Fred Page Cup, the Ramblers will be attempting to build a winner. Game time – 7:00 pm at the RECC.
These rivals bring their best compete level every meeting. This will be the first of two Wednesday encounters between these teams. Dalhousie (Agriculture Campus) and NSCC (Truro Campus) students can enter Wednesday’s game by producing their School ID.
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