TRURO, N.S. – It was a long time coming.
The Truro Bearcats haven’t experienced back-to-back wins since mid–November. It felt good and couldn’t come at a better time.
For sure, big wins against the two highest-scoring teams does a lot for the confidence. It proved what a 60-minute commitment can do.
In Bridgewater, the Bearcats did exactly what they needed to do. They held the fort in the early going; produced strong penalty kills; and received the goaltending required for a stretch run.
Friday, the Bearcats outshot Summerside, by a wide margin, and outscored the highest-scoring team in the MHL. No one left early in this one.
The Bearcat no-quit attitude was on full display. They came from behind three times is that game. That speaks volumes.
The Bearcats have finally figured out their identity. To succeed they have to be a lunch pail, hard hat team.
The opposition doesn’t appreciate that but that’s the price of playing the Bearcats. The plan is to keep it simple and battle.
This is not a popularity contest. So what if the other teams don’t like you.
The Bearcats come into this week in fourth spot, one point up on the Pictou County Crushers. They, too, want that coveted position.
Fans shouldn’t lose sight of the upper rung of the Eastlink South standings. One point separates first from third. There’s plenty of competition to go around.
This week, the Bearcats are on the road for a pair of divisional games. First up is a trip to Bridgewater tomorrow, then off to Amherst for a 2 p.m. game on Sunday.
The Lumberjacks have won two of three meetings and clearly need the win as much as the Bearcats. This should be a battle.
Same goes for Amherst. The Ramblers want the points as badly as the Bearcats, for different reasons.
The Bearcat recipe for success has been made clear. No deviations from it allowed.
It’s time for Truro’s championship experience to prevail.
Gerry Hale is media relations co-ordinator for the Truro Bearcats junior A hockey club.
