Coming off a big team effort win against Penetang the previous weekend, the NorStar Novice Rep Bears looked to continue that momentum into the holiday break with 3 games in two days to finish out 2015.
The first of those was on Dec. 18th when the Hwy118 rivalry was to be renewed with the Muskoka Rock in the friendly home surroundings of the Bracebridge Memorial Arena. The Bears came out a little sluggish in the first and were lucky to come away just down by 1 goal because of some big saves from E. Guthrie and C. Carlson finding the back of the twine with the help of P. Boyde and E. Gliddon.
Fears of an onset of Red Suit Syndrome having set in early were put to rest when W. Davidson dug a puck out of the corner and passed back to G. Cardwell who made the heads up play dishing to C. Walker in the slot. Walker made no mistake and tied the game at 2.
This was a different team over the last 25 minutes of the game as they took the puck to the Rock time and time again. Nothing but a hot goalie could deny them a second consecutive win and unfortunately a hot goalie they found. Having easily out shot the Rock 3-1 over that time and winning battle after battle, the game ended in a draw 2-2.
Little did we all know leaving the arena that night, these Bears had only begun to show us was they were capable of to close out the year.
Some treacherous roads and nasty weather greeted these animals Saturday morning for their trip east to the hockey hot bed of Haliburton for a pair of matches. Hopes of taking the season series against the Storm was the goal and they were behind with 1 win and 2 losses from previous games.
E. Brown provided the team with some new tunes and the days first goal with the help of J. Jennings and C. Carlson. The new music provided the team with that extra step as the 2nd period saw L. Downer bury one low corner to increase the lead to 2. J. Chambers added a 3rd and the doors were open. P. Boyde sniped 2 more before the period was done with the help of E. Gliddon on the first and T. Jennings and C. Carlson with his 3rd assist of the game on the second.
The storm snuck one by T. J Babcock on a scramble early in the 3rd but nothing else could get by the quick pads of the Bears goaltender on this morning. B. MacKinnon put the game out of reach with the Bears sixth goal when J. Chambers and E. Brown were able to get the puck to the big center.
A walk over to the small town hockey landmark, McKecks Tap and Grill for a team lunch was a perfect event for this group of young men and women who were finally beginning to see the fruits of their labour.
Back at the a rink where NHL legends have been made the Bears came out hungry and confident. G. Cardwell picked up a puck muscled loose on the boards by W. Davidson and rushed it end to end before putting it low short side. L. Downer then set up C. Walker to continue their hot streak and take a 2-0 lead into the 2nd period.
E. Gliddon and W. Davidson set C. Walker up for his 2nd straight two minutes into the period and B. Mackinnon took one home with the help of G. Cardwell before the period was over.
Up 4-0 to start the third period and playing on all cylinders the puck pressure and passing from every member of the team was not slowing down. A. Sickinger fired one home unassisted in just his 2nd game with the team and L. Downer put her 2nd of the day behind the line too. The day ended with J. Jennings lighting the lamp for a 7th goal and W. Davidson picking up her 3rd assist.
The team counted the clock down to zero which is exactly how many goals E. Guthrie allowed in picking up his first ever Shut-Out on the back of a big glove hand and strong stick.
With some of the team in the MPS All-Star game tomorrow and some traveling for family visits, there was no sweeter gift they could give each other than the unselfish team play and undefeated streak they are on today.
The coaching staff and NorStar would like to wish every player and their families a Merry Christmas and safe and happy holiday season.
Lets keep roaring Bears!