TRURO, N.S. – The Maritime Junior Hockey League’s Eastlink South Division is shaping up to be a tight one for the middle four teams.
The Yarmouth Mariners continue to tear up the league with 47 points and the fading Valley Wildcats are at the other end of the spectrum with just 11, heading into Sunday action. Between them are the Amherst Ramblers (34 points), Truro Bearcats (32), South Shore Lumberjacks (26) and Pictou County Weeks County Crushers (21).
Saturday at the RECC, the Bearcats and Crushers hooked up and despite 11 points separating them in the standings, Pictou posted a 5-3 win. After a slow start, the Crushers are showing signs of revival, putting up a record of 6-3-1-0 in their last 10.
Evan Gallant opened the scoring for the Crushers at 4:58 of the first but G Blackmore responded with a marker to make it 1-1. Blackmore broke in on the left side, froze the defenceman with a pretty toe drag and slipped it by Pictou netminder Matthew Normore. Shaun Bily and Craig Ryan picked up assists on the play.
In the second, with Truro’s Curtis Heffernan sitting out a tripping minor, Blackmore scooped up a pass from Damian Hartt at the blueline and streaked in all alone to beat Normore at 7:05, making it 2-1.
The Crushers turned things around with goals just 21 seconds apart. Jaden Mason tallied at 11:51 on the power play and Jacob Hickey followed up with a goal at 12:12 to put Pictou up 3-2.
In the third, Mason scored again to open up a two-goal Pictou lead at 13:38. Caleb Hart brought the Bearcats to within one again, assisted by Blackmore, but Hickey’s second of the night rounded out the 5-3 final.
The Crushers outshot the Bearcats 44-34.
Bearcats 2
Mariners 6
YARMOUTH, N.S. – Friday night, the league-leading Mariners built up a 3-0 lead in the second period before coasting to a 6-2 victory.
Cole Julian and Dylan Burton accounted for the Truro goals. Matt Barron had the hat trick for the Mariners, with singles going to Logan Timmons, Brent Broaders and Kaleb Boudreau.
Yarmouth outshot Truro 32-29.
Next up for the Bearcats is a 7 p.m. game Thursday in New Glasgow against the Crushers. Saturday, Truro hosts the Valley Wildcats for a 7 p.m. contest at the RECC.
