The MetalFab Cup MHL Cup playoffs are now fully underway.
The matchup between the Truro Bearcats and Amherst Ramblers constitutes the oldest rivalry in the League. Both clubs entered the Metro Valley League in its second season (1968).
The Bearcats obtained the Kentville Riteway franchise, while Amherst took over the Berwick Shell junior program.
The Ramblers have been in the league since, while Truro was not part of it from 1983 to the current franchise return in 1997. There’s plenty of history there.
The opening game of Round I in Amherst (March 15) is one the Bearcats would like to forget. That’s a hard one, losing 11-1.
The hometown Ramblers were hot from the get-go, scoring two in the first, then poured it on scoring four in the second, then five in the third.
Truro’s lone response was a powerplay goal in the last minute of the game. To say the Ramblers owned the Bearcats is putting it lightly.
Fans from both sides were anticipating a close, tight playoff game between teams which played that way in regular season play. It just didn’t happen.
The thought of stealing one on the road quickly vanished. It became a no-doubter early. Rambler scorers lived up to the billing.
The one certainty going forward is the fact the Bearcats are better than that. Game 2 goes, Tuesday (March 18). It’s pushback time, in a big way.
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, March 21 in Amherst, with Game 4 back in Truro Saturday.
In other Eastlink South action, the Pictou County Crushers knocked off the Capitals 4-1 in Summerside on Saturday, then won 3-2 on Sunday to take a commanding lead.
Several MHL announcements recently are worthy of note.
The Fredericton Red Wing franchise has moved to Bathurst, the team to be known as the Chaleur Lightning. The franchise came to Fredericton from St. Stephen in 2019.
Hammonds Plains, NS
5’9”, 170 lbs
18, Defence
The Final CHL Rankings for 2024-2025 has the Edmundston Blizzard at the No. 1 spot, with Summerside coming in 10th and Amherst 20th.
The MetalFab Cup was first presented at the end of the 2022-2023 season. The updated trophy will have the names and staff of the winning teams back to the 1991-1992 season, when the Metro Valley League was renamed the Maritime Junior Hockey League.
Bearcat-of-the-Week honours went to Eric Halliday for scoring Truro’s goal to prevent a shutout loss. He returned to the Bearcats at the Trade Deadline after splitting the last two seasons between the Bearcats and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.