BEARS STUNG BY HORNETS, 11-0, LAST NIGHT IN PJHL HOME SEASON OPENER
Photos and story Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
BRACEBRIDGE — A crowd of 777 wasn’t lucky for the Muskoka Bears last night who were unlucky to draw a top PJHL opponent the Alliston Hornets in their season opener.
Friday the 13th was downright scary in an 11-0 drubbing by one of the best over the first-year team.
The upbeat crowd’s vocal support should have been good enough for a least a goal or two. But Bears fans went home empty-handed along with the league’s newest young entry team.
Happy that least they iced a team, but not the result the hometowners wanted.
With the image of the Bracebridge legend and late NHL all-star goalie Roger Crozier on the impressive tickets and game lineup, the Jr. C team could have summoned up some of his greatness.
Campbell McDiarmid was chased out of the net after 10 minutes after the Hornets buzzed him taking a 3-0 lead on goals by Colton Morris — and a pair by Jacob Holmes a minute and 9 seconds apart.
Connor Sampson fared no better giving up eight more the final 50 minutes. Two of those were by Cam Lamont to end the first period 5-0. And two more came from Cole Turcotte and David Harvey for 7-0 lead after 40 minutes. Finally four more were scored starting with Ben Smith and Jackson Young (1:10 apart) and finally a pair by Nick Lamont just 41 seconds separating them.
Muskoka was out-shot 47-24 with Christian Lambert getting the shutout.
The Bears could also have used the help of former NHL great Kris King, who was seen chatting with fans on the upper deck while “scouting” players, he joked.
He says he’s getting ready to back to work as an NHL vp next week when training camps resume Sept. 18. King said he was down from his Mathiasville home to Buffalo last week for meetings.
Before the 7:30 p.m. start former Bears legendary coach Danny Poland, 92, was animated as usual dropping the puck. And Kassandra Cutting Bois was actually able to be heard singing the national anthem after technical glitches last week
The Bears were playing short-handed icing only three lines due to suspensions from last season of players they’ve signed. As usual penalties played a part in the game with the Hornets on three of six chances. The Bears were 0-6 with the extra man.
In a rink three-quarters full of instant analysts there was no shortage Monday morning quarterbacks this Friday night. A lot of blame by the local cognoscenti was based on the Hornets’ undefeated exhibition record and stories about several Alliston players having come down from “the O” (OHL). A couple of Bears have also had a cup of coffee up in Major Jr. A.
In a league where your reputation precedes you that shouldn’t surprise fans.
The Bears play Innisfil Sunday and host Huntsville next Saturday, Sept. 21 in a north division rivalry. The Otters lost 7-3 to Innisfil at the same time — setting up a more potentially equitable Northern Carruthers Division rivalry.
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