By Gerry Hale
It’s time for some home cooking.
The Truro Bearcats have played 11 games to date, all but two on the road. They come into this week with a pair of wins and three shootout losses among the defeats.
Those results have the Bearcats sitting in fifth spot in the Eastlink South Division, a point behind Pictou County and one up on the Valley Wildcats.
The last three weeks had the Bearcats play three games each week. All teams will have the ugly spots in the schedule,
But, teams generally enter each game with an expectation of winning, regardless of venue. Obviously, many factors come into play.
Last Thursday, in Pictou County, Truro fought back from a three-goal deficit to close within one. An empty-netter sealed it for the Crushers.
It was a rugged, spirited game. The Crushers won the special teams competition, scoring on two of six power plays. Truro failed to tally on their six opportunities.
The Bearcat home effort against the South Shore Lumberjacks may have been the team’s best 60-minute effort of the season.
Solid 5-on-5 hockey, a couple of power play goals, a pair of unassisted efforts combined to show the home crowd that this team is clearly better than its record indicates.
Saturday, in Yarmouth, Truro fell behind by three goals in the first and just never caught up. The shots were there, but the results weren’t.
This week Truro is home for their first doubleheader of the season. Summerside is in town Friday and Pictou County is here Saturday. Both games get underway at 7 p.m.
The Capitals share top spot in the Eastlink North Division. The have a solid nucleus of returning forwards including last year’s scoring champ and MHL MVP.
This will be their lone regular season visit to the RECC and the Bearcats will be ready for them.
The Bearcats and Crushers split their two meetings. Having the Crushers on home court holds plenty of promise.
Following Saturday’s game, the Bearcats will return to the ice for the first Skate With the Bearcats of the season.
This is a great opportunity to meet this edition of the Bearcats and a great way to cap off two highly anticipated Bearcat games.
Go Cats Go.
Gerry Hale is president and media relations coordinator of the Truro Bearcats junior A hockey team.
