February 22, 2026

SAME SCORE, BUT BETTER GAME FOR BEARS IN SECOND STRAIGHT 6-2 PLAYOFF LOSS TO ORILLIA TODAY; GAME 3 WEDNESDAY NIGHT STILL IN BRACEBRIDGE

BRACEBRIDGE — It wasn’t golden.

But by last night’s standards, this afternoon’s Game 2 playoff was Orillia silver, Bears bronze.

A bit as it was in Orillia in Game 1 with the same 6-2 score, but much better hustle and play by both teams — particularly from the goalies (save for the ones that got past them, including a couple of really nice ones for each team).

Maybe inspired by this morning’s Olympic gold medal win for the U.S. over Canada, the Jr. C PJHL Jr. C teams performed unlike in their series start, with solid two-way play at both ends of the ice by the home team and visiting Terriers.

With a 2-0 best-of-7 Terriers series lead now, Muskoka gets Game 3 back at home Wednesday — with Game 4 in Rama Thursday due to an Ontario Winter Games conflict in Orillia.

**William Muszynski had both Bears goals at either end of the ice. PHOTO Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com**

An early start today for most players, coaches, team staff and fans still produced a decent game with plenty more get-up-and-go after a mostly lack-lustre contest Saturday night in Orillia.

Muskoka was outscored 2-1, 2-1 and 2-0 in the three periods — Orillia’s last goal into an empty net.

The Terriers jumped on the score fast just 59 seconds into the game when Logan Jackson beat Kyle Downey who was making his second straight playoff start — after also being on the losing end last Monday in his team’s final game of the regular season.

At 8:54 of the first Evan Feltis gave Orilia a 2-0 lead on the lone power play goal of the game.

**Orillia was faster on the puck for most of Sunday’s game that resulted in a second stright 6-2 final score. PHOTO Alex Hogg MuskokaTODAY.com**

But when Bears sniper William Muszynski replied from in front of Wilson Mackey at 17:34, the scoreboard looked like Sunday’s 2-1 Olympic final with the Bears name under the Canadian flag and Orillia under the stars and stripes.

Muszynski also scored at the other end of the ice again with a beautiful one-timer in their team’s own home end of the rink at 5:25 of the second.

Orillia’s other goals went to Zeke Neely (6:04 second); Jace Schaly (16:17 second) and Dante Cugliari (7:56 third) and Colton Dumond (empty netter 16:22 third).

After five penalties the first two periods (3-2) officials called a dozen more in the third.

Attendance was announced at 238.