Busy week for Bearcats

TRURO, N.S. – The Truro Bearcats are still working out the early season kinks.
The Bearcats are winless in two games to begin the Maritime Junior Hockey League season after dropping a pair of road contests to the reigning champion Yarmouth Mariners at the Mariners Centre on Sept. 13 and Sept. 20.
“That barn’s really hard to play in; they have a great fan base, so going there the first couple of games is tough, especially when they are the defending champs, but we’ll work stuff out and we’ll be fine,” said third-year Bearcats defenceman Jack McGovern, whose team lost 3-2 last Friday in Yarmouth.
“I think we’ve just got to get used to playing with each other. Not a lot of people have played together; we’ve got a lot of new people … we’ve just got to get used to playing with each other and we’ll start moving once we get going.”
The Bearcats visited the Amherst Ramblers on Wednesday (visit trurodaily.com for result). Thursday, they hit the road to face the Pictou County Weeks Crushers at 7 p.m. for a game that will be televised on Eastlink TV. The local cable provider will broadcast eight MHL games this season, including three involving the Bearcats.
“Playing on TV is always great; it’s always a fun game, and playing against Pictou on TV is always great too because they’re probably our biggest rival.”
The Crushers are off to a 2-0 start this season and are ranked No. 14 in the CJHL national Tier 2 rankings. The Bearcats and Crushers have played many feisty tilts over the years, and the latest edition in the Battle of Mount Thom isn’t expected to be any different.
“It’ll be kind of like a playoff game,” said Crushers forward Jaden Mason.
“It’s always a high-tempo game and both teams don’t really like each other. It should be a good one.”
On Saturday, Truro will play its home opener against the Valley Wildcats. After starting the season with four straight road games, the Rath Eastlink Community Centre will be a welcome site for the Bearcats.
“It’s gonna be great playing at the RECC,” said McGovern. “Starting the season on the road isn’t always good; it’s kind of tough, but once we settle into our rink and get playing there, it will be fun.”