BRACEBRIDGE BEARS JR. C HOCKEY RETURNS TO MUSKOKA WITH PROMISING FIRST EFFORT AGAINST ORILLIA TERRIERS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — The Bears are back — at least three goals back.

The Bracebridge Jr. C team returned to play after what Dave and Ken Veitch Jr. are calling a 40-year absence.

Nonetheless they were on the ice this afternoon — in Gravenhurst — to face the Orillia Terriers who were semi-finalists in their Georgian Bay Provincial Jr. Hockey League division last season.

And the Simcoe team looked just a lot stronger in both teams’ first pre-season match-up. They won a 7-3 rough cut game that Bears coach Jason Dawe admitted wasn’t exactly a typical outing for either club initially.

This was more of a comeback for Bracebridge, after being down 7-1 and following only five practices.

The Bears had their chances capitalizing on three attempts in their first game back in the Provincial Junior Hockey League against nearby Orillia Sunday afternoon in Gravenhurst.

But what a return it was for the 410 fans who came from Bracebridge, Orillia and Gravenhurst to witness the rebirth of the Bears and their famed glories of the past.

Lots of familiar hockey faces to cheer the teams on. It was like old home week.

Central Ontario hockey games are like family reunions — six degrees of separation as everyone knows each other in the small fraternity.

Coaches, management and support staff know all the other players by name or reputation.

The Bears were missing four players who are under suspension from last year when they played U18 and tossed out after a game in Shelbourne. The OHL carries over suspensions year-to-year even the player is with a new team. They will be back for the regular season.

An announced crowd of 410 filled the rink, proving there’s a craving for good local community-run junior hockey.

What was typical on the ice was early season jitters mixed with pent up teenage angst as penalties and the usual rough housing led to three power play goals by the Terriers and Bears in 16 penalty calls. As well as a Bracebridge ejection and a possible concussion.

Orillia won the first and second period 4-1 and 3-0 before the Bears going in the third with the only two goals.

Jacob Jennings had Bracebridge’s lone goal in the opening stanza. His brother Tyson Jennings and Jacob Budney tallied their final pair.

Connor Sampson and Campbell McDiarmid split the net duties equally, with the former giving up five goals and the latter two.

Dawe admitted his team is still formulating and is hopeful of a better effort and result tomorrow  (Sunday) in Hanover and Thursday in Midland.

Then it’s back to their new digs at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre Saturday at 7 p.m., Aug. 31, for their hometown return and debut against Penetanguishene.

Early days and early results that can only promise to be better.

Ken Veitch Jr. says the team has 80 various sponsors. There was no shortage of fans, team members and supporter sporting the red and black team colours.
Veitch’s brother Dave, his wife Naomi and Ken’s wife Tracey were happy overall with the game – if not the score. They promise better next Saturday in their home debut with Penetang.
The crowd was full of team supporters from Bracebridge, Orillia and Gravenhurst. 

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