TRURO - The Truro Bearcats are a team on the rise.
The Bearcats, off to a blistering 6-0 start in the Maritime Junior Hockey League, are the No. 4-ranked team in the nation, according to the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
The Bearcats moved up three spots from seventh last week and into the top five for the first time this season.
The Bearcats continued their perfect season last Saturday with a 5-1 thumping of the Pictou County Weeks Crushers and are the only team in the MHL without a loss.
Bearcats coach Shawn Evans attributes his team's success to having the right mix of players.
"We have a brand new team," Evans said. "I think when you do the breakdown we have more new guys than there are returning guys and it hasn't been that way in the last couple of seasons, at least, and I think that's brought a fresh attitude and I think the guys that have returned are solid citizens and solid players, so I think the combination there has been good to this point."
The Yarmouth Mariners (7-1), ranked 18th last week, jumped up two spots to No. 16 this week.
Honourable mention went to the Summerside Western Capitals (6-1).
The Brooks Bandits (AJHL) are ranked No. 1, followed by Penticton (BCHL) and Flin Flon (SJHL).
Weekly rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the teams play, winning percentage, win-loss record, total points accumulated, goals-for vs. goals-against ratio, among others.
The Bearcats return to the ice Friday for a road game in Yarmouth, before hosting the Metro Shipbuilders for a 7:30 p.m. start Saturday at the Colchester Legion Stadium.
