TRURO, N.S. — TRURO, N.S. – You’d be forgiven if you mistook the Truro Bearcats for the MHL’s Eastlink South division leaders Saturday, rather than the South Shore Lumberjacks.
They played like it.
The Bearcats put together 60 solid minutes of hockey at the RECC, and got steady goaltending from Alec MacDonald to post a 4-1 victory over the Lumberjacks, who slipped to second in the division after a Yarmouth win Saturday elevated the Mariners to that top spot.
The Bearcats’ impressive win took a little sting out of a 3-2 overtime loss the night before against the Amherst Ramblers. Still, three points out of a possible four is a good outcome against two teams hovering above Truro in the standings.
Lumberjacks 1
Bearcats 4
Cole Julian scored at 4:40 of the opening frame, stepping across the blueline and ripping a shot past Ty Grant, that appeared to deflect off a defenceman’s stick. Lauchie MacDonald and G Blackmore drew assists.
In the second, Luke MacMillan upped the count to 2-0. With the Bercats short-handed, he and Blackmore broke in on a 2-on-1 and MacMillan converted a perfect pass from his team mate.
Ian Smallwood scored the Lumberjacks’ lone goal at 4:17 of the third, on the powerplay, but that didn’t faze the Bearcats.
Nearing the midway point of the third period, Ben Higgins threw the puck out from the corner to a streaking Lauchie MacDonald and he went to the backhand to make it 3-1.
Then Higgins capped the scoring as he wheeled out from the corner and slipped it by Grant. Spencer Blackwell and Zach Welsh picked up helpers on the play.
Netminder MacDonald was named first star of the game, stopping 34 of 35 shots. Overall, the Bearcats were outshot 35-31.
Ramblers 3
Bearcats 2 (OT)
Friday, the Bearcats held a two-goal lead after 40 minutes. Early in, Matt Gordon scored from Carson Lanceleve and Dell Welton at 2:49 of the first. Midway through the second, Higgins scored from Blackmore making it 2-0.
The Ramblers came back in the third with goals by Cole Waugh, on the powerplay, and Max Boudreau. Then at the four-minute mark of overtime, Boudreau scored the winner for the 3-2 Amherst win.
The Bearcats were outshot 43-25 by the Ramblers.
Next up, Truro will entertain the Pictou County Weeks Crushers Saturday at the RECC. Game time is 7 p.m.
MHL EASTLINK SOUTH DIVISION
GP W L OTL SOL PTS
YARMOUTH Mariners 26 15 8 2 1 33
SOUTH SHORE Lumberjacks 26 15 9 1 1 32
AMHERST Ramblers 24 13 10 1 0 27
PICTOU CO. Weeks Crushers 21 12 8 1 0 25
TRURO Bearcats 24 8 10 2 4 22
VALLEY Wildcats 26 7 18 1 0 15
