TRURO, N.S.
The Truro TECTURA Bearcats posted an overall record of 5-1 and defeated the Cape Breton County Islanders 7-4 in the final of the Royal Canadian Legion Challenge Cup bantam AA hockey tournament in Membertou.
Brandon Forbes led the Bearcats in the gold-medal game with two goals, including the eventual winner with 2:06 left in the second period. Forbes also added an assist for a tidy three-point effort, while Aiden Fisher, Ewan MacKinnon and Colby Wolfe each chipped in a goal and a helper. Keagan Macumber and Mitchell King pumped home other markers for the champion Bearcats and Ashton Cutten provided strong goaltending.
In a semifinal game, the Bearcats blanked the Chebucto Atlantics 1-0. Jake Stewart scored the game’s lone goal with 8:48 left in the first period and Cutten stopped all shots directed his way for the shutout.
The Bearcats opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over the Cole Harbour Wings.
After a scoreless first period, Forbes put Truro on the board with 9:33 left in the second. Alexander Hendren replied for the Wings 42 seconds later. Tim Porter of the Bearcats fired the winner with 3:19 left in the period and Kyran Burton iced it with a late third-period tally. Wolfe had two assists in the contest and Cutten picked up the win in nets.
In Game 2, the Bearcats dropped a 4-1 decision to the Glace Bay Miners. Macumber had the lone Truro goal, assisted by Nick Gallant. Brandon White manned the pipes. Glace Bay broke open a close game with three unanswered goals in the third period.
Truro rebounded to earn a victory in their next game – a 3-1 win over the Northside Vikings. Stewart, Gallant and Macumber netted markers for the Bearcats and Cutten got the win.
In their other preliminary game, the Bearcats marched to a 6-1 win over the Sydney Steelers. Fisher notched two goals, while Sam Rogers, Stewart and Wolfe each added a goal and an assist and Forbes had the other marker. White was solid in nets.
The Bearcats also collected individual hardware, as Porter was named the tournament’s most dedicated player.
