BEARS GET AN EXCITING 4TH WIN — WITH SECOND VICTORY OVER PENETANG IN OT LAST NIGHT AT HOME

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — The Bears managed another win — their fourth in 32 games their rookie PJHL season.

This time a well-deserved 4-3 victory for the home team who hung in for quick end in OT.

It was their second win over Penetang — vs. three losses to the Kings including when they were shut out in their last meeting Jan. 11 at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre.

The couple face off Feb. 14 in Bracebridge for the final time.

Owen VanDusen, left, celebrates his winning overtime goal with Jacob Budney who fed him a gorgeous pass he tipped in for the Bears’ fourth win of the season. Photos Mark Clairmont

They traded goals in the opening 20 minutes when it looked like the visitors were going to run away with it.

Hayden Anderson tied the Kings on a nice wrist shot on the left side over Owen Moreau’s right shoulder.

And Ryan Warwick tied it a second time with a lovely give and go with brothers Jacob and Tyson Jennings.

Bears defenceman Mason Burnett squeeze the Kings’ Carter Wilson in the corner in Saturday’s night 4-3 home win.

A scoreless mid frame led to a third period tie with Jacob Budney netting his 12th of the season for the Bears before giving up the tying goal on Nathan Saye’s second of the night on Muskoka netminder Gabriel Donohue who had another otherwise solid game.

The three-on-three seven-minute overtime was settled 1:27 in by Owen VanDusen on a two-on-one give and go from Budney for the jubilant winner.

VanDusen, Budney and Donohue were named the three stars sending the home crowd of 386 away ecstatic.

The Bears, who iced 17 skaters and two goalies, also received a bench minor penalty (coach) on the goal.

Muskoka also beat the Kings 5-4 Oct. 4, but lost to them 10-1 Nov. 16 and 5-1 on Nov. 29.

The Bears are now 2-6 in January. They were 0-4 in December, 0-8 in November, 2-4 in October and 0-6 in September.

Bears fans ring the bell, clap and cheer celebrating the Bears’ fourth win among a jublilant crowd of 386.
Cohen Carlson plays the puck up off the boards out of the Muskoka end.
Burnett and Wilson clash again in the third as the Kings pressed to tie the score late and force overtime.
Penetang defenceman Max Geere tries to hold the blue line as the Muskoka men look to break out.
Cam Carruthers clears the puck around the back of his net with the Kings closing in on him.

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