Bearcats Aucoin has an outstanding manner
‘It’s pretty cool to be able to play for your hometown team in junior’
ere were 835 fans on hand as Truro Bearcats returned to homeice action last Saturday night at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre.
e Maritime Hockey League team had defeated South Shore Lumberjacks 8- 5 the previous night in Bridgewater in their rst game following the Christmas break.
Positive comments surfaced before the Bearcats faced off against St. Stephen Aces: there was mention of Shawn Bily’s hattrick and Karter Renouf’s twogoal performance against the Lumberjacks.
Overall, the mood was good and some fans were overheard predicting that the Bearcats would make it two in a row to start the new year.
With goals quickly coming o the sticks of Renouf and Bily, the local team jumped into an early 3-0 lead and went on to post a 3-2 win against an Aces club that battled gamely right until the nal whistle.
With the two early 2019 victories, the Bearcats record stands at 18-10-1-1 good for third place in the Eastlink South Division. ey are four points behind secondplace Amherst Ramblers and 11 points ahead of fourthplace south shore Lumberjacks.
For this week’s column, it was good to talk to Bear cats rookie defence man Marc Au coin.
Pleased with the good start in the new year, Aucoin felt the recent break did volumes for the team.
“The break we just had was good,” Aucoin, 18, of Valley, said. “It was a good mental break; we started the season strong and then in December we sort of went on a slide. e break helped us get ready for the second half of the season.”
Hockey followers familiar with Aucoin may have noticed that he has made a change in positions.
Back in novice hockey I played defence,” he said. “ en beginning with atom hockey I played forward right up until my third year in midget. It seemed natural to play forward and then something happened last year in the playo s with Pictou (Weeks Major Midgets); because of injuries we were short on defence, I moved back and nished the season as a defenceman.”
The converted forward was thinking about the defence position as the 2018-19 season approached, a season that would see him attend training camp with the junior A Truro bearcats.
“It was kind of nerve-wracking coming into training camp with the Bearcats,” the 2018 Bearcats draft pick said. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I’m really pleased, its played out pretty well, it’s really exciting every day to be with the Bearcats team. To come to the rink and work out with these team- mates, I’m really enjoying it. I grew up watching the Bearcats, it’s pretty cool to be able to play junior for your home town team.”
Continuing the interview, it was easy to be impressed by the young player’s outstanding manner.
He said a lot when asked about his thoughts as to why some players choose to play top-caliber hockey.
“Before playing organized hockey my dad (Kevin Aucoin) got me into a little thing called ‘Monday Hockey.’ After that, in minor hockey, I tried to play the top hockey I possibly could. It’s interesting, there are athletes I grew up with, some lost interest as they went along. Playing junior A, you’re with a group of guys who all have the same goal in mind, they care a lot about hockey. We all want to play the top calibre that we can.”
Playing his early hockey in the Truro & Area Minor Hockey Association, Aucoin played the 2014-15 season with Truro Bearcats in bantam AA. For the next two seasons he suited up with Newbridge Academy ( midget), followed by playing last season in major midget with Pictou County.
Aucoin, a 2018 graduate of CEC, attends Dalhousie Agricultural Campus, taking business courses. Besides his studies, Aucoin had me smiling as he shared further ambitions.
“I also work at Fort Belcher Holstein Farm for Allan Porter. I nd it very interesting learning about farming and things I had never touched growing up. Cleaning out calf pens, feeding cows, whatever has to be done, it’s a real good experience.”
Aucoin and the Bearcats host Valley Wildcats Friday night. Saturday night, the Yarmouth Mariners are in town. Opening faceo s for both games are 7 p.m. at the RECC.