TRENTON, Ont. – The Maritime Hockey League (MHL) Eastlink South team, comprised of five players from the Truro Bearcats, wrapped up action at the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge on Tuesday with a 1-1-1 record.
The team edged OJHL Oates 2-1 for its lone win of the event to finish third in its division. Only the group winner and a wild card team from the remaining nine teams advanced to playoffs.
The OJHL squad opened the scoring in Tuesday’s game with Andrew Rinaldi beating Truro Bearcats goaltender Alec MacDonald at 9:22 of the firsd period. The MHL South evened things up under three minutes later as Alex Wynter of the Amherst Ramblers banked the puck off an OJHL player into the net for an unassisted goal.
Tyler Caseley of the Yarmouth Mariners relieved MacDonald in the MHL goal and made a number of key saves to keep the game tied as both teams settled in. Each team had powerplay chances in the final frame, but couldn’t convert.
Then, in the final minute, despite the 1-1 score, the OJHL pulled their goaltender. Logan Timmons of the Yarmouth Mariners scored to give the MHL a 2-1 lead and the win. The assists went to Yarmouth’s Noah McMullin and Truro’s Jack McGovern.
Bearcats forwards Karter Renouf and Dylan Burton, and defenceman Curtis Heffernan and were also members of the Eastlink South team.
Meanwhile, the Eastlink North team also finished with a 1-1-1 record and out of the playoffs.
