Bearcats set for a new season Gerry hale
The Maritime Junior Hockey League opens its 51st season with a lone game scheduled for tonight in New Glasgow.
The Truro Bearcats will have to wait another night before they start play. They’re gnawing to get started.
The Bearcats finished their exhibition schedule on a high note last Thursday, picking up their third win in as many games.
All players got to play at least two of the three games, tasted success and played the way asked. It was all good.
The team entered this week reduced in number to 22 (two goalies, seven defencemen, 13 forwards). They’re good to go.
The Bearcats look to solid goaltending and the leadership of its veterans to show the way. This is a young club.
Ten players are new to MHL play. Nine of those are League rookies.
They will learn quickly that wearing a “T” on the front of the jersey means there’s a target on your back.
It comes with the territory when you’re defending champs. That makes it all the more exciting as they grow their game.
The Bearcats travel to Yarmouth Friday to participate in the Mariners’ home opener. This will be a learning experience.
The Mariners were the hottest team in the MHL in the opening months of last year. The Bearcats cooled them in the playoffs, eliminating the Mariners in five games.
They return a large number of high-end forwards and certainly look for a strong showing, especially against the Bearcats.
Saturday, Truro’s home opener features a visit from the St Stephen’s County Aces, a fourth-year franchise which tasted post-season play for the first time last year.
The Aces have a new coaching staff and a strong nucleus of returnees looking to take the next step, or two. This will be another good test for the youthful Bearcats.
Congrats to Coach Evans for being named associate coach of the Canada East team; to Steve Lindsay for being named equipment manager of that team; and to assistant coach Joel Isenor for being named to the all-star team at the Canadian senior men’s fastpitch championship.
Everybody is excited.