Bearcats post two more shootout wins Tibbo adds two more to his league-leading goals total
The Truro Bearcats kept pace in the Maritime Junior Hockey League standings with a pair of weekend wins, both by way of shootout.
On the road, the Bearcats beat the Yarmouth Mariners Friday, then shaded Dieppe Commandos on Sunday. Both shootout victories ended 5-4.
Truro remains second in the league’s Eastlink South Division with 66 points in 46 games, on 32 wins, 12 losses, an overtime loss and a shootout loss. Pictou County Weeks Crushers (33-82-1) sit atop the standings with 69 points in 44 games played while the Mariners (29-10-2-4) are third with 64 points in 45 games.
Bearcats 5 Commandos 4 (SO) Kyle Tibbo continued his torrid scoring pace Sunday in Dieppe, potting two goals and assisting on another. Tibbo has 82 points with 43 goals – both tops in the league – and 39 assists. Alexis Roy of the Crushers is second in league scoring with 79 points.
Dieppe led 1-0 after the opening frame on a Nolan Alward goal. Riley Baggs scored the third-period goal that tied the Bearcats with the Mariners, before they went on to a shootout win.
In the second, Zach Moody and Cameron MacLeod scored to put Truro up 2-1 before Ryan Chiasson tied it again. Tibbo’s first of the night put the Bearcats up 3-2 but Joey Richard replied for the Commandos late in the period making it 3-3.
Liam Conrad put Dieppe ahead in the third but Tibbo scored at 10:46, sending the Two more goals and an assist in Dieppe Sunday increased Kyle Tibbo’s league-leading total to 82 points on 43 goals and 39 assists.
teams to overtime and then the shootout.
Netminder Jason Rioux earned the victory for Truro as the Bearcats were outshot 3832.
Bearcats 5 Mariners 4 (SO) Friday night in Yarmouth, the Bearcats squandered a two-goal third-period lead and needed a late tally by Riley Baggs to force overtime and ultimately, the shootout.
Cameron MacLeod opened scoring at 1:33 of the opening frame and Tyler Pike made it 2-0 for Truro midway through the second.
Lawrence Lyver closed the gap to 2-1 before Dylan Burton scored to make it 3-1.
In the third, the Mariners scored a pair of markers in the first minute and a half to tie it, by Mateo Short and Ty Power. They took their first lead of the game at 15:18 when Short scored on the power play.
Baggs’s goal came with the Bearcats enjoying a two-man advantage, as Brandon Hughes and Nic Blanchard drew assists on the play.
Truro outshot Yarmouth 2518. Rioux again earned the win in net.
This Wednesday, the Bearcats play their final home game of the regular season when they host the Mariners for a 7 p.m. contest at the RECC.
This weekend, they swing into New Brunswick for a 7:30 p.m. game in Campbellton Friday, and on Saturday, they face the Miramichi Timberwolves, also a 7:30 p.m. start.