BEARS ON VERGE OF ELIMINATION THURSDAY NIGHT IN RAMA, DESPITE DOWNEY FACING INCREDIBLE 75 SHOTS IN 3-2 LOSS TO TERRIERS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
BRACEBRIDGE — The Bears may be down 3-0 and facing elimination tomorrow night in Rama (8 p.m.).
And if Kyle Downey gives way in net to back-up Joseph Degan it would understandable — if unlikely.
His Muskoka Jr. C team is more than twice as good as last season largely thanks to the one-time OHLer recruited to improve the Bears from 6 to 13 wins this their second season in the PJHL.
And it showed tonight as he faced 75 shots in a close 3-2 loss that his team-mates once led 2-0.
He stopped 72 shots by the visiting Orillia Terriers, who beat him 6-2 and 6-2 the first two games of their playoff series at home and on the road.
The over-ager was good as promised this night and cheered by the 211 hockey fans in attendance at the late 8:30 p.m. game start.
But with only two goals — again — the sixth-place Bears ended up no real match for the third-place Terriers.
Despite Downey keeping his team in a scoreless first period game with pad save after acrobatic diving saving pad save.
And giving them a 2-0 lead late into the second period.
He was helped on goals by Isaac Oakes who beat Bennett Mackey over his shoulder at 4:46 with only the Bears’ ninth shot; and Tyler Lasitz who was credited for a goal that bounced off a Terrier defender’s skate at 12:28.
But it took the Terriers 49 shots for Lleyton McLean to solve Downey at 15:54 of the second.
And their 60th shot by Colton Dumond at 4:40 of the third to tie the game.
Unfortunately for Downey and the Bears he and his team gave up the winning goal midway through the third at 10:51 when Jake Schaly notched the game winner.
And with Downey pulled for the final 1:21 of the game he was off the ice after 75 shots and suffering the loss.
In what could be his last junior game of his career — in Bracebridge — watching from the end of the bench standing alongside Degan — his possible successor next season.
However, the duo could share the team’s final game Thursday night barring another outstanding performance by Downey and a win, which could see the teams return to Orillia Saturday night for Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.
Note: Coming into the Northern Carruthers Division playoff the top four clubs were 2-0 in wins and the bottom four, including the Bears, were 0-2.
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