TRURO, N.S. – A pair of weekend losses proved costly for the Truro Bearcats in the Maritime Junior Hockey League standings.
The Bearcats lost 4-3 to the lowly Valley Wildcats on Friday and were hammered 6-0 by the first-place Yarmouth Mariners on Saturday to fall further out of the playoff race in the Eastlink South Division.
Truro (14-14-3-4) is six points behind the Amherst Ramblers (20-17-1-0), who currently hold down the fourth and final playoff position in the South. The Bearcats, however, have played three fewer games. Amherst split games in New Brunswick during the weekend, losing 4-2 to Edmundston before a 6-2 victory over Grand Falls.
Valley 4, Truro 3
Wildcats goaltender Aaron Brunn made 37 saves, including 18 in the third period, and was named the game’s first star as Valley picked up just its ninth win in 39 games this season.
James Walker and Jason Imbeault scored power-play goals for the Bearcats, while Ben Higgins added a single marker. Gavynn Carter, of Camden, scored shorthanded for the Wildcats, while other goals came from Sam Grant, Blake Deacon and Cole Kirkup.
Bearcats goaltender Sebastien Plamondon faced 28 shots.
Yarmouth 6, Truro 0
The Mariners rolled into the Rath Eastlink Community and handed the Bearcats their third straight loss.
Yarmouth led 3-0 after the first period and 5-0 after 40 minutes.
Sam Gillis scored twice in the contest, while Ryan Semple, Kieran Burke, Kurtis Lang and Jonathan Rees had other goals. Mariners captain Matt Barron had a second-period assist to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 247 points.
This week
The Bearcats visit the South Shore Lumberjacks on Thursday, and will get another crack at the Mariners on Friday when the teams meet once again at the RECC at 7 p.m.
Eastlink South Standings
W L OTL SOL Pts.
Yarmouth 24 12 2 1 51
South Shore 20 16 2 1 43
Pictou County 20 14 2 0 42
Amherst 20 17 1 0 41
Truro 14 14 3 4 35
Valley 9 28 2 0 20
