Season twenty-six for the Truro Bearcats has ended.
On Thursday, the Yarmouth Mariners put the Bearcats on the brink
with a 4-2 home win. It turned out to be the closest game in the series.
The teams were tied heading to the final period, but Yarmouth’s fire
power prevailed, scoring two to earn the win.
As had been the case throughout the playoffs, the Bearcat bench
was short. A pair of U-18 call ups improved the numbers, but Yarmouth
wasn’t to be denied.
Saturday, the Bearcats finished the opening period with a lead. It
didn’t hold up, as the Mariners scored four unanswered the rest of the
way to win the Eastlink South championship.
The Mariners swept the Crushers and Bearcats, demonstrating
clearly why they finished first overall. Best wishes to them going
forward.
They outscored the opposition 42-16 in the two series. Sticking to
the script and playing with composure paid off.
The Bearcat season was a good one and there’s little doubt the
Valley series took plenty from them. It was an exhausting one which
brought the team limping to the Divisional Finals.
Hats off to the graduating Bearcat players who completed their
junior eligibility in Truro — Christie, Steele, Miron, Bays, Maynard,
Humber-Dredge and Martin. The organization thanks them and wishes
them the best.
There are exit meetings to be held and spots to be filled. That
process never ends.
Saturday’s loss also ended the Bearcats’ first decade at the RECC.
Their first game there was on March 2, 2013, against the Metro
Shipbuilders (now the Valley Wildcats).
The Bearcats defeated Pictou County and Amherst to capture the
Divisional title, before losing in the finals to Summerside.
The Bearcats hosted the Fred Page Cup (May 1-5) and came out the
winner to move on to the Royal Bank Cup for the first time.
It was a great start for the Bearcats at the RECC. The team went on
to win four more Divisional titles during the decade and won MHL titles
in 2014 and 2017.
Interestingly, since returning to the Junior ranks in 1997, the
Bearcats have won four League titles, but each was clinched on the
road.