BEARS HOLD THEIR OWN AGAIN TILL THIRD PERIOD IN 5-2 LOSS TO SISKINS SATURDAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — Down just a goal in each of the first two periods, the Muskoka Bears gave up three more in the third for a 5-2 loss here last night at home.

It was the same outcome as Friday when they visited Huntsville for the first of back-to-back weekend games.

Down 2-0 after two periods Saturday, the Bears took two more — including Connor’s Hiles’ third of the evening — before Hayden Anderson replied unassisted at 10:35 with his sixth season score.

Hiles’ hat-trick were his eighth, ninth and 10th goals of the season.

A mix up at 13:10 landed Muskoka’s Parker Orr and Brayden Kelly with 10-minute unsportsmanlike misconducts after a skirmish with Siskins Gunner Kirk and Carson Marinelli who were equally penalized.

A pair of 5-2 losses here Friday at the Summit Centre in Huntsville and at home Sunday show some progress for the first-year PJHL team as the season nears its end this month before the playoffs. Photos Mark Clairmont

Jacob Jennings got one back for the home side (also his 10th goal), from Owen Vandusen and Anderson at with 1:26 to go.

Gabriel Donohue, back between the pipes a second straight night, stopped 47 of 52 Siskins shots. At the other end, Nathan Boudreau turned away 36 of 38 Bears shots for the win.

Muskoka returns to the ice Thursday in Orillia against the Terriers.

Then it’s a pair of anticipated matches with 33-1 Alliston — Friday on the road and home to the Hornets Sunday at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre 2 p.m.

The Bears are the only team to have beaten Alliston this season.

The following Thursday Muskoka is in Stayner. The next night, Feb. 14, they host Penetang.

The Bears are eager to get on the ice now with a bit more success – if not a lot of wins. They could be hoping for an upset against Alliston in the playoffs in March. Two games next weekend against the Hornets could measure their true progress.

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