At week’s end the Bearcats extended their win streak to five games.
That’s impressive, more so because four of those wins were on the road.
Thursday, in New Glasgow, Callum Aucoin’s two early goals gave the Crushers concern but the hosts fought back to enter the third one goal up on Truro.
Eli Baillargeon and Drew Keiver each scored a pair in the final frame with but one reply from the Crushers.
The 6-4 win was Truro’s third win of the season over the Crushers. You just know these matchups will get heated.
At home against Edmunston, the Bearcats picked up a pair of goals in both the first and second periods forcing the Blizzard to chase the game. Each team scored a goal in the third in the 5-1 Bearcat win.
In both games, Eli Baillargeon scored a pair giving him 17 goals and 8 assists in the 19 games played, good for third in team scoring, one behind Callum Aucoin and three back of Jake Todd.
In both games, the Bearcats received strong goaltending from Louca Connolly whose season record sits at 8-2-2-0 in 13 appearances. His 2.92 GAA is second in the MHL, but first among MHL rookies.
Last week, the Bearcats made three roster changes. Goalie, Brandon Lavoie was traded to Amherst. Sam Berthiaume, who turned 16 on November 17th, and fresh from a Silver Medal at the World U-17, is now Connolly’s tandem partner.
Other moves saw forward, Isaac Arsenault, moved to the Chaleur Lightning, and defenceman, Nathan Dubreuil, to the Grand Falls Rapid.
Truro’s forward unit of Julien Roy, Austin Hoyt and Matthew Bolduc is one of the largest in the MHL and logging big minutes. Roy is currently the longest serving Bearcat with 121 games under his belt over the last three seasons. The Bearcats acquired his services early in the 2023-2024 season from the Amherst Ramblers. He’s grown his game to find minutes on the penalty kill as a reliable player. A 2022 draft pick by Granby (QJHL) and Quebec Rempart, he’s assumed a leadership role.
Truro enters the week second in the South Division three points behind Summerside (3), and one up on Amherst. The Bearcats 7-3 record over the last 10 games is just shy of Amherst’s 8-2 record over the last 10.
The Bearcats play a pair of games this week. The Eastlink North’s top team, the Grand Falls Rapid, are at the RECC Friday for a 7:00 pm start then on Saturday, Truro travels to Miramichi for a 7:00 pm start.