The Truro Bearcat Training starts Monday, August 24.
Practice and workouts will be held Monday and Tuesday beginning at 2:00 pm. Intra-squad games are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at 2:00 pm. Friday, the Bearcats travel to Pictou County for exhibition play against the Crushers. They meet Saturday at the RECC, both games have 7:00 starts.
Bearcat Head Coach Ryan Falkenham is excited with his appointment to the position. As an assistant coach to Jon Greenwood the last two years, he was instrumental in Bearcat growth enroute to the MHL Championship.
Coming on board as Assistant Coach is PJ Moore. The Colchester native possesses a strong background in the NCAA with Plymouth State University, as well as picking up coaching experience in that program. Blade Mann-Dixon, an Antigonish native, is a veteran of MHL and QMJHL play. Last year he served as Goalie Coach with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He will be Goalie Coach with St. F.X. this year as well.
Ryan Porter returns for a fourth season as an Assistant Coach, but on a more limited time frame. Whatever time he can provide will be highly appreciated.
The coaching staff has to be impressed with the number and quality of those attending this camp. The number of possible returnees coming back as defending champions indicate a nucleus for a strong competitive team. There is strength in all three positions.
The Bearcat season finished in mid-May last year, leaving short lead up time to the June Draft. Management was busy acquiring player rights to four players, all ready to make their mark as a Bearcat.
Two Quebec players, Cedrik Laberge (18) and Theo Gravel (19), bring strong scoring credentials. Laberge is coming off two seasons of QM18AAA, finishing last year fifth in team scorings. Gravel, after three productive QM18AAA seasons, was the Rookie-of-the-Year in the QCHL with the Champlain St. Lawrence Lions.
The Bearcats acquired Sam Flemming (17) from the Chaleur Lightning. A leader with the Halifax McDonalds for the last two years, he was the NS U18 Playoff MVP and two-time Provincial Champion.
Valley native, Matthew Vohra (20), was acquired from Campbellton. Last year, after three seasons of Prep hockey in New Hampshire, he suited up with the Brockville Braves.
These signings came prior to the 2026 Draft. The Bearcats added nine players from this Draft.