The Cavalcade Ford bantam Bears swept the MPS series with a flawless 5-0 record, bringing home the cup and making their communities proud.....
Hot off an undefeated season record of 18-0-0, expectations have been high for this hard-working team. Returning from a prolonged holiday season, the Bears were back to work with MPS playdowns, allowing some much needed ice under their feet.
Friday Jan. 13th had the Bears facing off against the Parry Sound Shamrocks. South Muskoka took it to them and sealed this win with a 6-0 victory. A nice way to start the tournament.
Saturday proved to be a different beast all together. Struggling against their nemesis the Huntsville Otters, the Bears were sloppy and could not seem to pull themselves out of the large slump they fell into. With the puck all over the ice, it was late into the 3rd before South Muskoka finally hit the net. An empty netter secured the insurance but this was an ugly game from start to finish. Final score was 2-0.
Saturday afternoon brought Highland Storm to centre ice. Always a competitive game, the Storm have continuously had a mental impact on the Bears. Again this was a harrowing game. Highland came out with gunz a blazing. By the end of the first frame, the Bears were down 2-0. Stressed, panicked and eerily quiet, the Bears opened the 2nd period with a quick goal. Minutes later they scored again to tie things up. Immediately into the 3rd, the Storm seared a shot taking the lead yet again. Hunkering down and scrambling to find their feet, the Bears kept everyone on their seats until at the 3 minute mark they tied the game. Less than 2 minutes later they took the lead. At the 42 second mark the Bears secured an open netter to make it a 5-3 advantage.
Haliburton was not done yet. At 6 seconds, they scored. As those last few seconds ticked down, it was nothing more than a huge sigh of relief. The Bears skirted through this win. Final score was 5-4.
The Championship brought with it another shot at meeting Huntsville. Pulling themselves up by their frayed laces the boys showed up Sunday morning rested and ready to play championship hockey. Less than 2 minutes into the opening frame, South Muskoka bent the twine setting the tone of things to come. A hard-hitting and very physical game, the Bears were taking no prisoners as they pinched tight, fore-checked with precision and back-checked with authority. South Muskoka was punishing in their attack. By the end of the second frame it was a 6-0 game. The shock & awe tactics put Huntsville in their proper spot on the food chain. This game came to a close as the Cavalcade Ford Bantam Bears skated off deserving winners of the 2017 Muskoka -Parry Sound championship.
With expectations high for OMHA playoffs, round one begins this weekend, against the Huntsville Otters. The first to 6 points advances to round 2 which will move to the Collingwood/Midland grouping.
Please check the website for scheduling and game times.
Support your hometown hockey!
submitted by Mary Lyndon