NEW GLASGOW, N.S. – Alec MacDonald turned in a brilliant effort between the pipes on Thursday to backstop the Truro Bearcats to their first Maritime Junior Hockey League victory of the season.
MacDonald made 41 saves, including 16 in the third period, as the Bearcats beat the Pictou County Weeks Crushers 5-3 in front of 995 fans at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
It was the Crushers’ first loss of the season.
Rookie Lucas Parsons gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead near the midway point of the first period, however, Logan Van de Meerakker tied it with a power-play goal just over a minute later. Bryan Laureigh answered on the power play with 1:22 left in the opening stanza for a 2-1 Truro lead after 20 minutes.
Evan Gallant scored for the Crushers just over five minutes into the second, while Spencer Blackwell restored the Truro lead at 10:27.
In the third, Maxime Grandmaison made it 3-3 with a goal early in the period, however, Spencer Blackwell fired home the winner at 10:27, and Parsons, with his second of the night, added insurance to close out the scoring.
The Truro win came after three straight road losses to start the season.
The contest was broadcast on Eastlink TV and included its fair share of penalties. Cole Julian and of the Bearcats and Craig Ryan of the Crushers dropped the gloves just seven seconds into the third period. Ryan is a former Bearcat, who was traded to the Crushers this past summer.
The Bearcats return to action on Saturday when they host the Valley Wildcats for their home opener at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre at 7 p.m.