September 20, 2025

BEARS SCORE EARLY, OFTEN FOR FIRST SEASON WIN, 4-2, OVER RIVAL OTTERS

HUNTSVILLE — The Bears scored first and often in the first two periods here last night.

In the big rink where it was elbows up Canadian hockey the visitors took it to home team for their first win of the PJHL season.

A convincing 4-2 victory they set out early with leads they never gave up Friday.

**Muskoka took the early lead 1:54 in to the game with Dylan Hendrick scoring from Kevin Demeules and Liam Cardiff. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com**

And a different outcome from last Sunday afternoon at home in Bracebridge where the Bears lost their season home opener to Huntsville 3-2.

This is indicative of the closeness of the two Muskoka teams now as the season just begins and sets up a strong rivalry. As if it didn’t exist before.

After the Otters dominated last season, changes in line-up and coaching have finally paid off for the Bracebridge-based team with some familiar faces on the score sheet and a returning one from their dismal inaugural season.

Speedy team rookie Dylan Hendrick quickly opened the scoring at 1:54 of the first.

Fellow newbie Kevin Demeules made it 2-0 at 1:52 of the second.

Both times they humbled Darin Willis for their second goals in as many games.

**Gavin Williams had two goals for the home Otters, including this one in the second period.**

After Gavin Williams replied with his first of two on the night in the second (6:11), Tyson Jennings stretched the visiting lead to 3-1 with his first of this campaign at 11:19.

But Williams was fast to reply only 12 seconds later at 11:31 to bring them the game a goal apart.

But Liam Cardiff (13:57) had his first goal for the 4-2 win.

The third period was scoreless and amazingly without either team having a shot on goal.

Fine for Kyle Downey who got his second Muskoka start stopping 25 of 27 Otter shots (11-16). Willis had 22 saves on 26 shots (12-14).

**Jake Robertson plays the puck back to the line as the Bears dominate on the scoreboard in a physical game.**

All six goals were with even-strength match-ups, the Bears 0/5 on the power play and Huntsville 0/6 with the extra man.

The game was rough, though, with lots of penalties including cross-checking, charging and unsportsmanlike with players from both teams being sent off: the Bears’ Ethan Boyes and the Otters’ Rhett MacFarlane.

Referees called seven penalties in the mid-period: holding, cross-checking, roughing, high-stick, slashing, cross-checking and again Boyes this time for kneeing.

Four roughing penalties in the third were in addition to a pair for clipping, tripping, a fight between Muskoka’s Mason Taylor-Wood and Owen Rueck — and too many men on the ice for the Bears served by Taylor Wood.

Attendance at the Canada Summit Centre was 479 — one more than the 478 in Bracebridge Sunday at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre.

Muskoka is at Innisfil Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. to face the Spartans.

And host the league champion Orillia Terriers next Friday Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.