September 1, 2024

BEARS EVEN THINGS UP IN 4-3 WIN OVER PENETANG IN ENTERTAINING OPENING PRE-SEASON GAME IN BRACEBRIDGE AT MLCC

BRACEBRIDGE — An even record — and even better home opening for the Muskoka Bears.

From their goal just 26 seconds in, by Tyson Jennings, to the game-winning tie-breaker, by Brayden Kelly at 16:05 of the third, the Bears scored big on the scoreboard and with a 4-3 victory over Penetang an even bigger with a crowd of 637 in their first PJHL home game at the new MLCC.

An entertaining contest that saw the new Muskoka team come away on top and had the Veitch brothers Dave and Ken Jr. giving each other a big hug at the end.

And a sigh of relief at beating one of the best clubs in the Provincial Junior C Hockey League last season and who led 2-1 after the first.

**It was a big win for the Bears who are now 2-2 in pre-season play with their official PJHL league season opener in two weeks on Friday the 13th at the MLCC against Alliston.**

Ryan Warwick and Aiden McDonald helped with the other markers 34 seconds apart in a second period comeback — at 15:17 and 15:51 — for the Bracebridge-based team who were pretty much dominated much of the night in play as Connor Sampson held them in check stopping 33 of their 36 shot. The Bears scored four times on 32 shots.

Ashton Kerwin, Camron Hutchinson and Nick Story replied for the visiting Kings, including in the 1-1 third period.

Goal scorers Warwick and Story receiving fighting majors at the end of the game.

**Bears goalie Connor Sampson proved stellar holding off this King on a breakaway in first period.**

But that didn’t matter as crowd loved it celebrating each goal with thunderous applause heard the first time in the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre.

With lots of seats left (400), it was a comfortable atmosphere with what seemed every other person wearing a red or black Bears sweater, jacket, hat or t-shirt.

The players wore good-looking beige retro jerseys.

And while they still looked a little rusty four games into the season, they’re 2-2 after losing to Hanover in Game 1 the Saturday before and losing in Midland Wednesday.

Promising however, with the real test Friday the 13 at home to Alliston in two weeks, where Dave Veitch promises an even bigger game and league season opener.

“Every game’s going to rock.”