The Truro Bearcats opened December with a pair of games, once again settling for a split.
It became obvious quickly there would be no easy games. South Division competition requires teams to bring their “A” game, otherwise you will be disappointed.
Malartic, QC
6’4”, 194 lbs.
18, Goalie
Friday, at home to face the Valley Wildcats, Truro started quickly scoring the only two goals of the first period. They were in control.
For the rest of the game, the Bearcats were hard pressed to equal the effort the Wildcats discovered. The visitors took control.
Add to that, turnovers in the defensive zone, and it became a long night for the Bearcats. This team should not allow five goals in a final period at home.
However, resilience is part of junior hockey. In Summerside, Saturday, the Bearcats showed up. The teams played even through the first two periods.
The third belonged to the Bearcats. They scored three unanswered goals. The hometown Capitals were short on composure, giving Truro too many chances while inhibiting their own flow.
It was a Jekyll and Hyde weekend, the kind not to be repeated.
The Bearcats did some pre-Christmas shopping to finish off November. They acquired two twenty-year-olds, a forward and defenseman, from the Wildcats.
They acquired a seventeen-year-old goalie from Fredericton, along with an eighteen-year-old defenseman. Gone from the Bearcats are roster players, Cael MacDonald and Yacine Chemrouk.
As a result, Truro no longer is playing short-staffed, and will be a touch deeper and grittier – now get all on the same page.
This Wednesday, the Bearcats host the Amherst Ramblers – remember this is Teddy Bear Toss Night.
Saturday, Truro begins their extended road trip with a stop in Pictou County. The Bearcats won two of the previous three.
Sunday, they are in Berwick to face the Wildcats. Truro owns three wins in the four outings.
The Boston Pizza Bearcat Player-of-the-Week (ending Dec. 3) is goalie, Frederic Cousineau. He rebounded from a defeat, Friday, with a win in Summerside, stopping 43 of 45 shots directed his way by one of the strongest teams in the country.