TRURO, N.S. – Alec MacDonald stopped 29 shots and drew an assist on the overtime winner as the Truro Bearcats shaded the Pictou County Weeks Crushers 2-1 in Maritime Junior Hockey League action Saturday at the RECC.
Sunday it was a different story, however, as the Bearcats were blanked 4-0 by the Valley Wildcats in Berwick.
Saturday's matchup was close throughout. Gavin Hart opened the scoring at 14:28 of the opening frame. Hart stripped a defender of the puck at the Pictou blueline and went in untouched, slipping a backhander by goalie Andrew MacLeod.
The Crushers countered late in the second when Jake Martin scored at 17:43.
After a scoreless third period – one played without a single penalty being called, a rarity when these two teams tangle – the game went to overtime and Shaun Biley settled the matter at 1:20, assisted by Damian Hartt and MacDonald.
The Bearcats had 20 shots on MacLeod. MacDonald was full marks for the win as the Crushers outshot Truro 12-4 and 10-4 in the second and third periods.
The Bearcats share second place in the league’s Eastlink South Division with the Amherst Ramblers, both with 24 points. Yarmouth Mariners hold down the division’s top spot with 29 points.
Today (Sunday), the Bearcats travel to Berwick to take on the Valley Wildcats at 2 p.m. Thursday Truro is in Amherst for a 7 p.m. contest with the Ramblers.
The Bearcats next see action at home Friday, Nov. 16 when they host the Mariners at 7 p.m.