The heat is on in the MHL

The Truro Bearcats weathered the weekend rather well in Maritime Junior Hockey League action.

It was a busy one, featuring three games in three nights. They came out of it with two wins and a solid outing in a loss.

Friday, the visiting Grand Fall Rapids spent too much time in the Truro end. Too many Bearcats penalties didn’t help.

Truro’s goaltender kept the Bearcats (each should personally thank him) in the contest before a dramatic ending brought the crowd to its feet.

It’s not a good policy to leave things to the last minute; however, the Bearcats got away with it, along with the two points.

It was an important victory against a hard-working team which thought they deserved more. The win set the stage for Truro’s ‘game of the week.’

Second place was at stake in Saturday’s Ramblers-bearcats matchup. Truro’s response was quick, and strong.

The Bearcats got the start they wanted, scoring early and often, tallying in each period en route to the 5-1 win, and for the first time this season, find themselves in second place.

The recipe for that win was a good one: secondary scoring, solid goaltending, and few penalties. It was a good plan.

There’s little doubt the Bearcats went to Summerside with limited gas in the tank. They got the most out of it, in a losing cause.

The biggest thing they picked up was respect, from the second-ranked team in the country. That effort should serve them well down this stretch.

The results of games played Monday had the Bearcats go into last night’s game against Pictou County tied in second spot. Like all teams in this hotly contested Division, winning is the only objective.

Tomorrow (Friday) the Bearcats are off to Bridgewater to face the South Shore Lumberjacks. They are big, strong and just as hungry as the Bearcats.

Saturday, the Bearcats are in Yarmouth to square off against the Division’s leading team. The comfortable lead they owned has narrowed.

This is the way a stretch run should unfold. Every game is a big game and the standings can change on a dime.

For the fans, this is what they live for. Want to be part of it?