MUSKOKA BEARS LOSE TO INNISFIL, CAN’T START WIN STREAK WITH ONE VICTORY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — Hopes of their first win streak ended tonight when Muskoka’s Jr. C club came up short-handed in a 6-1 loss to Innisfil.

Penalties, as often, left the Bears almost scoreless as the Spartans took advantage of the extra-man opportunities, scoring three of nine times.

The Bears had hoped to follow up on a 5-4 win last week in Penetang.

Saturday night’s home ice loss was the sixth for the Bears, who also lost a 5-4 shootout to the Spartans Sept. 15 in the Kings rink.

Innisfil captain Nolan Caruso, left, had a goal in the 6-1 win, despite checking by Muskoka’s Mason Burnett. The Bear did score the winning goal in their first-ever win Oct. 4 in Penetang. Photos Mark Clairmont

But it was clear that in opening month the Bears haven’t improved as much as the Spartans.

A five-goal difference on the scoreboard showed how so. Half their goals were extra-man efforts.

Muskoka did well in the first period giving up only one goal at 15:48, when Bears goalie Connor Sampson and his defence allowed a couple of rebounds in deep, which Tyler Sweat capitalized on.

But Justin Caruk was pretty much in alone scoring Innisfil’s second goal at 7:12, before a cross-checking penalty to the Bears’ Jacob Jennings allowed Nolan Caruso to score his seventh goal of the season, top self, at 13:03.

Jacob Jackson made it 4-0 at 2:23 of the third.

The Bears regained some hope 7:18 in to the third with Ryan Warwick tucking one in just behind Luke Rockbrune on his stick post.

But a stupid team let up 16 second later gave that goal away when Spartan Mac Earle raced down ice and too easily beat Sampson.

Sam Belman rounded out the Spartans scoring with his team’s sixth goal for the win.

Rockbrune stopped 36 of 37 shots and Connors 33 of 39.

The Bears were in the box 13 times, the Spartans 7.

Muskoka entered tonight’s eighth game 1-5-1 (SOL) and is now 1-6-1 (SOL).

Attendance was 360 — the smallest of the season for the Bears — on this Thanksgiving weekend.

Most of the action was around the Bears net, where Connor Sampson faced 39 shots and gave up six goals.

Bears first win over Kings in Penetang

Saturday night’s game follows Muskoka’s first win, 5-4, in Penetang Friday Oct. 4 when Mason Burnett notched the deciding goal at 16:16 of the third.

That seventh game victory was an even road affair with both teams trading goals in the first and a pair each in the second. The Bears outscored the Kings 2-1 in the third.

Jacob Jennings, Parker McAdams and Tyson Jenning scored on the power play and Tyson Tarvydas started the scoring at 4:05 of the third.

Connor Sampson got the win, stopping 31 shots; with Muskoka firing 40 shots.

 

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