September 17, 2025

BEARS AND OTTERS RESUME INTENSE MUSKOKA JR. C RIVALRY FRIDAY IN HUNTSVILLE WITH 1-0 EDGE FOR HOME TEAM

BRACEBRIDGE — Changes can’t come fast enough for the Bears in Huntsville Friday night.

The second half of an early season back-to-back faceoff resumes the Muskoka rivalry at 7:30 p.m. after a 3-2 Otters win Sunday afternoon at the Muskoka Lumber Centre.

The south Muskoka team is looking for its first win after also losing to Alliston 5-0 last Friday.

With an 0-2 record they should be expected to get at least a point of two — with a tie or a win — which is possible with a bigger, improved line-up including two new goalies and a change in management and behind the bench coaching.

Just that wasn’t the case in their season opener.

The Bears will have to be sharper to beat Huntsville Friday. Here Otter Darren Willis stymies Logan Cicchelli close in as the Bears peppered him with 53 shots including a missed penalty shot in the first period of Muskoka’s home opener Sunday. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

Eager fans in both towns are excited to see how the grudge match-up continues after the veteran Otters team easily winning the PJHL series in the Bears’ inaugural season last.

Expect Bears goalie Kyle Downey to return between the pipes after Joseph Degan, of Bracebridge, took the loss in facing 28 shots.

Expect Downey to be back in net after facing 68 Hornets shots: “The most I ever had in a game.”

That after playing 30 games in the OHL with Erie (26), Kingtson (3) and Guelph (1) was the past two seasons with the Stouffville Spirit (66 games) of the OJHL.

The Bears are counting on the 21-year-old, 6-foot-2 from Caledon to backstop a lot more wins.

**Kyle Downey will likely return to the crease Friday at the Summit Centre in Huntsville after facing 68 shots his first outing a 5-0 loss in Alliston last Friday. PHOTO Alex Hogg MuskokaTODAY.com**

**Bracebridge goalie Joseph Degan proved challenging beating an Otter here as he’s not afraid to leave the crease.**

The same goes for Tyson Jenning, of Bracebridge, who is skating without his brother Jacob in the Bears line-up. And who looked a lot stronger and faster his first home start.

Captain Aiden MacDonald, of Washago, was solid in his return as usual and can the right-winger be counted on for key leadership and key shots to set up plays inside the blue line.

The renewed Muskoka rivalry resumes at 7:30 Friday night at the Summit Centre in Huntsville where the Bears hope to stop the Otters in their own rink where a large crowd is expected watch some good Jr. C PJHL action here with Gavin Williams splitting the defenders.

A couple of welcome newcomers have already helped in making their marks with the only goals for the Bears so far.

Left-winger Kevin Demeules was the most impressive addition hovering around the net and scoring Muskoka’s first goal of the season in the opening period.

Speedy MacTier centre Dylan Hendrick had the second goal in the third and made his presence felt in the faceoff circle against the Otters who advanced in the playoffs before the Orillia Terriers eventually won the league title.

Not bad as Demeules and Hendrick were the only ones able to beat all-star Darrin Willis in the Huntsville end as the Bears peppered him with 53 shots. Including a first period penalty shot miss by Cardiff who was pulled down on a breakaway and crashed into the net.

Muskoka is also on the road in Innisfil Sunday.