Bearcats to open MHL final Saturday in Miramichi

The schedule has been released for the Maritime Junior Hockey League championship series.

The Truro Bearcats and Miramichi Timberwolves will meet in the best-of-seven Kent Cup final, beginning Saturday in Miramichi at 7:30 p.m.

Game 2 is Tuesday in Truro at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre at 7 p.m.

The Bearcats defeated the Yarmouth Mariners in five games in a first-round playoff series, before ousting the Amherst Ramblers in five to win the Eastlink South Division crown and advance to the final for the fourth time in five years.

The Timber-wolves’ road to the final included four-game sweeps of the St. Stephen Aces and Summerside Western Capitals.

It’s hard to label a favourite in the series, as Truro and Miramichi finished the regular season with similar team stats.

Truro posted a 35-13-1-1 record for 72 points, while Miramichi went 35-12-2-1 for 73 points to earn home-ice advantage in the final series.

The Timberwolves won two of three regular-season meetings against the Bearcats. Truro’s lone win came on March 4, when the Bearcats rallied from a 3-0 third-period deficit for a 4-3 overtime victory in New Brunswick.

The full schedule is as follows:

Saturday, April 15

Truro at Miramichi, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18

Miramichi at Truro, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 20

Truro at Miramichi, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 22

Miramichi at Truro, 7 p.m.

*Monday, April 24

Truro at Miramichi, 7 p.m.

*Wednesday, April 26

Miramichi at Truro, 7 p.m.

*Friday, April 28

Truro at Miramichi, 7:30 p.m.

*If necessary