February 21, 2026

TERRIERS’ McCLEAN BEATS BEARS WITH HAT-TRICK — INCLUDING PENALTY SHOT — FOR 1-0 PLAYOFF LEAD TONIGHT IN ORILLIA; GAME 2 SUNDAY 2:30 P.M. IN BRACEBRIDGE

ORILLIA — Penalties, power plays and a penalty shot cost the Muskoka Bears their first game of the playoffs here tonight.

Oh … and three goals by Lleyton McClean — including a second period power play — that proved the end of the visiting team.

Add preparation, pep and persistence that gave Orillia Terriers the 1-0 lead in the best of seven PJHL Jr. C Carruthers division final.

Game 2 is back in Bracebridge tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

**Bears forward William Muszynski cuts around Terriers defencemen in desparate attempt for more scoring tonight in Orillia. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com**

Neither side was particularly sharp until the third when the Terriers found their stride with their fourth goal just 1:08 into the final frame that one by McLean.

Before it the home team somehow held the scoring edge after a lack-lustre 1-1 first period tie, which that began with Terrier Colton Dumond opening the scoring on a shot that beat Muskoka’s Kyle Downey at the 2:53 mark.

It took a dozen minutes for Jack Seney to reply on a power play at 14:11 of the first.

Then the Terriers chipped away with four more goals including a McLean penalty shot that beat Downey in the five-hole. Jake Norman and Logan Jackson also scored power play goals for Orillia.

It took Liam Cardiff till just past midway of the third — 11:06 — to score the Bears’ second goal and make it 5-2.

McLean completed his hat-trick on the game’s last goal at 16:11 for a 6-2 final.