TRURO, N.S. – The Truro Bearcats have been giving their opponents in the Nova Scotia Major Bantam Hockey League fits all season, on their way to an 11-7 record, as of Dec. 8. The team remained in the giving mood Dec. 9, but this time it had nothing to do with ice, skates and pucks.
In groups of four, with lists in hand, the 13- and 14-year-old players descended on the Truro Wal-Mart which just happens to be across the street and down a slight hill from the Bearcats’ home at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre.
They filled shopping carts with the desired items, singled out for a family in need in their community; and did so with the joy of the season, and enjoyment of hanging out together, clearly visible.
The fun continued back at the centre as players wrapped the just-purchased items before gearing up for a Sunday afternoon practice in a time slot more often used for their games.
“We went to Wal-Mart and bought some toys, clothes and stuff for people in need,” said team captain Brayden Schmitt, a smooth-skating defenceman in his second season with the major bantam Bearcats.
“It went pretty well and it was a good team-bonding exercise too,” Schmitt added.
Also in his second year with the team, centre and assistant captain Andyn Furmidge talked about the activity just completed by him and his teammates.
“It feels pretty good to give back to families in need, to the community,” Furmidge said, as Schmitt and teammate Brooke Thomson nodded in agreement.
Thomson, in her first year with the team, talked about how the activity had everyone in a Christmas frame of mind.
“It really gets everyone in the spirit, to be giving back,” she said.
Season so far
If there has been a common theme for the 2018-19 Bearcats’ season so far, it’s close, hotly-contested games which have been, more often than not, decided by a goal or two.
Their goal differential on the season is 62-for vs. 57-against, while their 22 points sees the team just one point out of third place with a game-in-hand on the South Shore Lumberjacks.
The next seven teams behind the Bearcats in the standings, starting with the Cole Harbour Pro Hockey Life Storm at 20 and finishing with the Bedford Sports Bridge Barons, are separated by only five points.
“It has gone pretty good and we’re getting better as the season goes along,” Schmitt said of his team’s performance, which also included a 2-1 record at the annual Monctonian Challenge tournament. Those three games saw the team finish with a plus-seven goal differential and its only loss coming to the eventual tournament champions, the Central Attack from Charlottetown, P.E.I.
“We’re hoping to add some more wins as the season progresses, as well,” Schmitt added.
Furmidge talked about team camaraderie playing a role in the Bearcats success.
“We’re all pretty close … it’s fun hanging out,” he said.
Thomson talked about the adjustments she has had to make as a first-year player coming from peewee.
“Probably, for me, it was the checking,” she said of one of the bigger aspects in making the jump.
“I was expecting it to be hard in the corners, but I think I’m making the adjustment.”
Leading scorer
The Bearcats are being lead offensively by second-year forward Bryson Currie who has recorded an impressive 35 points in only 15 games; which includes a league-high 23 goals.
With just a few away games before the Christmas break, the Greg Mullen-coached Bearcats’ next home-ice action doesn’t take place until Sunday, Jan. 6, when they’ll host the Lumberjacks. Puck drop is 1 p.m.
