Truro Bearcats

The Truro Bearcats are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based out of Truro, Nova Scotia. The Bearcats are one of six Nova Scotia teams in the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

This article is about the Junior "A" team. For the Allan Cup-winning Senior team, see Truro Bearcats (senior). For the former Junior "A" team of the same name, see Truro Bearcats (1977–1983).
Truro Bearcats
CityTruro, Nova Scotia, Canada
LeagueMaritime Junior Hockey League
DivisionEastlink South
Founded1997
Home arenaRath Eastlink Community Centre
ColoursRed, white, and black      
Owner(s)Dave Higgins, Jon Stanfield, and Greg Mullen
General managerJames Barbour
Head coachShawn Evans
MediaJames Faulkner
Franchise history
1997 - PresentTruro Bearcats

History

Metro Valley League years

Originally, Truro was a member of the Metro Valley Junior Hockey League. The Bearcats won five championships in the MVJHL. Three back to back from 1969-70 to 1971-72. Truro won two more championships in 1973-74 and 1975-76.[1] In 1977 the MVJHL became a Junior "A" league and the Bearcats folded mid season in 1983.

Return of junior hockey

The new franchise of 1997 marked the return of junior hockey to Truro, and the Bearcats return to the MJAHL. The Truro Bearcats were formed in 1997 as a member of the Maritime Jr A Hockey League. The Bearcats have stayed competitive over their franchise history, they have never had a losing record, and have never missed the playoffs.

During the 2001 MJAHL Draft, the Bearcats picked 13-year-old minor hockey phenom Sidney Crosby[2][3][4] During the 2001-02 season, as a call-up, Crosby played a two-game call-up stint with the Bearcats.[5][6][7] Despite minimal playing time, Crosby still managed an assist.

In 2002, the Truro Bearcats played in their first Fred Page Cup as the host squad, They made four other appearances three as MJAHL champions, one in 2005, at a tournament hosted in Yarmouth Nova Scotia, and one in 2007 Saint-Jérôme Quebec. In 2013 the Bearcats hosted the tournament for a second time and a first time at their new home Rath Eastlink Community Centre winning the Final 3-2 in double Overtime against the Summerside Western Capitals. In 2014 The Bearcats made a second consecutive appearance in the Fred Page Cup tournament hosted by Saint-Jérôme

Truro captured their third Division Championship and third Provincial Championship in five seasons in 2008/09. The Bearcats would be defeated by the Summerside Western Capitals in the league final four games to one.

The 2011-12 season was the Bearcats final full season at the Colchester Legion Stadium.

A new home

The town of Truro and County of Colchester are constructing the new Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre, a rink that is supposed to seat 2600+ spectators.[8] The rink will be the new home of the Bearcats upon completion. The Bearcats will kick off their inaugural season in the new building by hosting the Fred Page Cup for the second time in franchise history (The first being in 2002) .[9]

On February 13, 2013 officials from the Rath Eastlink Community Centre confirmed the first home game for the Bearcats would be held on March 2, 2013, and would coincide with the opening of the new facility.[10] The Bearcats are not charging any admission fee to their inaugural game in the community centre, but will be accepting donations to local a charity. Management is hoping for a large crowd in anticipation of the arena finally opening after many delays.[11]

Logo and uniforms

The Truro Bearcats primary logo is large red or black T while their secondary logo features a bearcat jumping. In print, or other media the Bearcats logo consists of a large red T with a small jumping bearcat to the lower right.

2015–present

These home and away jerseys were first introduced for use in the 2015-16 season. They are a similar but updated version of the previous design. They keep the history of the team while modernizing the look of the jersey.


2009–2015

This jersey unveiled in the 2009-10 season features a large T on the front and the design of the Boston Bruins from 1995-2007. The jersey design is similar to the uniform the Bearcats would have worn in the 1920s and was implemented to bring back some tradition to the community.[12]

1997-2009

The logo is similar to that of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. The Bearcats' old jersey is that of the Buffalo Sabres from 1996/97 - 2005/06.


Seasons and records

Season-by-season results

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

SeasonGPWLTOTL/
SOL		GFGAPResults
(Division)		Results
(League)		Playoffs
1997-9851271942253207602nd Maurice Bent4th MJAHLLost Division-Final
1998-9948311612222154633rd Maurice Bent4th MJAHLLost quarter-final
1999-0052321730231180673rd Maurice Bent4th MJAHLLost quarter-final
2000-0152222172202201533rd Maurice Bent6th MJAHLLost quarter-final
2001-0252281662195155642nd Maurice Bent3rd MJAHLLost quarter-final
4th at Fred Page Cup
2002-0352341422211164721st Maurice Bent2nd MJAHLLost Division-Final
2003-0452331072193146752nd Maurice Bent2nd MJAHLLost Division-Final
2004-05562415125183159652nd Maurice Bent4th MJAHLWon League
4th at Fred Page Cup
2005-0656282008193166644th Maurice Bent7th MJAHLLost Preliminary
2006-0758421204257138881st Maurice Bent1st MJAHLWon League
4th at Fred Page Cup
2007-08583711-10210138842nd Maurice Bent4th MJAHLLost quarter-final
2008-09543612-6212127781st Maurice Bent2nd MJAHLLost final
2009-1050377-6214104801st Maurice Bent2nd MJAHLLost quarter-final
2010-11523018-4166128642nd Maurice Bent4th MHLLost quarter-final
2011-12522920-3190155613rd Maurice Bent4th MHLLost quarter-final
2012-1352389-5226124811st Eastlink2nd MHLLost final
Won Fred Page Cup
5th at Royal Bank Cup
2013-14523811-3243131791st Eastlink1st MHLWon league
3rd at Fred Page Cup
2014-15482519-4180154544th Eastlink8th MHLLost League Final
2015-16482515-8134116581st South4th MHLLost quarter-final
2016-17503513-2196154722nd South3rd MHLWon Div. Semifinal 4-1 (Mariners)
Won Div. Finals 4-1 (Ramblers)
Won League Finals 4-3 (Timberwolves)
MJAHL Champions
2017-18502820-2150130584th South6th MHLLost div. semi-final 3-4 (Mariners)
2018-19502421-5135158534th South7th MHLLost div. semi-final 0-4 (Mariners)
2019-20522818-8170166604th South8th MHLCancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020-21322110-112594433rd South3rd MHLMHL Round Robin Play-in(3-1-0)
Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22361915-2116111403rd South7th MHLWon Div. Semifinal 4-1 (Ramblers)
Won Div. Finals 4-3 (Wildcats)
Lost League Finals 4-1 (Western Capitals)

Fred Page Cup

Eastern Canada Championships
MHL - QAAAJHL - CCHL - Host
Round robin play with 2nd vs 3rd in semi-final to advance against 1st in the finals.

YearRound RobinRecordStandingSemifinalGold Medal Game
2002
HOST		L, Halifax Oland Exports 0-5
L, Ottawa Jr. Senators 0-6
W, Valleyfield Braves 4-0		1-2-04th of 4did not qualify for playoffs
2005L, Vaudreuil Mustangs 1-3
L, Hawkesbury Hawks 1-2
L, Yarmouth Mariners 2-3 OT		0-3-04th of 4did not qualify for playoffs
2007L, Joliette Action 2-3
L, St. Jerome Panthers 3-5
W, Pembroke Lumber Kings 3-2		1-2-04th of 4did not qualify for playoffs
2013
HOST		W, Collège Français de Longueuil 4-1
W, Cornwall Colts 6-2
W, Summerside Western Capitals 3-2		3-0-01st of 4Semi-final byeWon 3-2 2OT
Summerside Western Capitals
advance to Royal Bank Cup
2014W, Granby Inouk 5-4 OT
L, St. Jerome Panthers 6-7 OT
L, Carleton Place Canadians 1-2		1-1-13rd of 4Lost 2-5
St. Jerome Panthers		Did not qualify
2017L, Terrebonne Cobras 2-8
L, Collège Français de Longueuil 4-6
L, Carleton Place Canadians 1-3		0-3-04th of 4did not qualify for playoffs

Royal Bank Cup

CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dudley Hewitt Champions - Central, Fred Page Champions - Eastern, Western Canada Cup Champions - Western, [[Western Canada Cup|Trenton Golden HawksWestern Canada Cup - Runners Up]] and Host
Round robin play with top 4 in semi-final and winners to finals.

YearRound RobinRecord
W-OTW-OTL-L		StandingSemifinalGold Medal Game
2013L, Brooks Bandits 1-7
L, Surrey Eagles 0-7
L, Minnesota Wilderness 3-5
W, Summerside Western Capitals 4-2		1-0-3-04th of 5 did not qualify for playoffs

Franchise records

These are franchise records held by previous team rosters. Figures are updated after each completed MHL regular season.

A picture of the 2014 Truro Bearcats with the Kent Cup (click to expand).
Team Records for a single season
StatisticTotalSeason
Most Points882006–07
Most Wins422006–07
Most Goals For2572006–07
Fewest Goals For1802014–15
Fewest Goals Against1042009–10
Most Goals Against2012000–01

Franchise individual records

Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed MHL regular season.

Note: G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; Season(s) = Seasons played with franchise

3rd All-time leading scorer Jon Reid.
NameGAPTSSeason(s)
Stephen Horyl791212002006–2009, 2010–11
Dana Fraser691241932007–2010
Jon Reid501391892006–2009
T.J. Smith97841812004–2007
David MacBurnie661031692003–2007
Derek Field571081651998–2001
Josh Boulton85791641997–2000
Glenn Frazee76831592001–2005
K.C. Brown68881562005–2009
Jordan Mock57881452009–2012

Records – skaters
Career
  • Most seasons: 5, Travis Moore
  • Most goals: 97, T.J. Smith
  • Most assists: 139, Jon Reid
  • Most points: 200, Stephen Horyl
  • Most penalty minutes: 675, Donald Johnstone
Season
  • Most goals in a season: 47, Kyle Tibbo (2016–17)
  • Most assists in a season: 63, Dana Fraser (2009–10)
  • Most points in a season: 90, Dana Fraser (2009–10)
  • Most penalty minutes in a season: 348, Vincent Muller (2002–03)

Leaders

Team captains
  • Robbie Dickson, 1997-1999
  • Todd Kennedy, 1999-00
  • Alan Dwyer, 2000–01
  • Bryant Fraser, 2001–02
  • Joel Isenor, 2002–03
  • Jim White, 2003–04
  • Glenn Frazee, 2004–05
  • Matt Beaver, 2005-2007
  • Rodi Short, 2007–08
  • Sam Hounsell, 2008–09
  • Ben MacAskill, 2009–10
  • Evan Watts, 2010–11
  • Matt English, 2011–12
  • Travis Moore, 2012–13
  • Phillip Fife, 2013–14
  • Brandon Pye (home) and Jake Primeau (road), 2014-2015 [13]
  • Jimmy Soper, 2015-2016 [14]
  • Kyle Tibbo, 2016-2017 [15]
  • Campbell Pickard, 2017-2018 [16]
  • Dylan Burton, 2018-2019 [17]
  • Ben Higgins, 2019-2020[18]
  • Leon Denny, 2020-2021[19]
  • Holden Kodak, 2021-2022[20]

Head coaches
  • Steve Crowell, 1997-2001
  • Dave Barett, 2001
  • Shawn Evans, 2001–present

Honoured members

Team awards
Team Trophies and Awards
AwardDescriptionTimes WonSeasons
Kent CupLeague Champions42004–05, 2006–07, 2013–14, 2016–17 [22]
Nova Scotia Jr. "A" Provincial ChampionsBent/Eastlink Division Champions82004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016-2017, 2021-2022[23]
MHL President's CupRegular Season Champions22006–07, 2013–14
Fred Page CupEastern Canadian Champions12012–13
Executive of the Year AwardTop Executive Team of the MHL12012–13

Individual awards
Individual awards won by Bearcat players and staff
PlayerAwardSeason
Chris WilcoxLeague MVP1997–98
Chris WilcoxPlayoff MVP1997–98
Mark LynkMost Sportsmanlike1998–99
Josh BoultonMost Sportsmanlike1999–00
Donald JohnstoneAcademic Achievement Award2002–03
Matt Climie/Daniel TurnerYoung/Knickle Trophy (GAA)2003–04
Matt ClimieRBC Player of the Year2003–04
Matt ClimieLeague MVP2003–04
Matt ClimieTop goaltender2003–04
Matt IorianniPlayoff MVP2004–05
Shawn EvansCoach of the Year2004–05
Victor Saari/Corey ChipmanYoung/Knickle Trophy (GAA)2005–06
Darcy Stewart/Kirk RafuseYoung/Knickle Trophy (GAA)2006–07
Jon ReidRookie of the Year2006–07
Andrew HarmesAcademic Achievement Award2006–07
Zach SillPlayoff MVP2006–07
Shawn EvansCoach of the Year2006–07
Pierre Alexandre Marion/Luke GallantYoung/Knickle Trophy (GAA)2007–08
Stephen HorylMost Sportsmanlike2007–08
Pierre Alexandre MarionLeague MVP2007–08
Pierre Alexandre MarionTop Goaltender2007–08
Richard Gagnon/Kirk RafuseYoung/Knickle Trophy (GAA)2008–09
Shawn EvansCoach of the Year2008–09
Richard Gagnon/Kirk Rafuse/Alex ScolaYoung/Knickle Trophy (GAA)2009–10
Kirk RafuseTop Goaltender2009–10
Dana FraserMost Sportsmanlike2009–10
Kirk Rafuse/Spencer ScottYoung/Knickle Trophy (GAA)2010–11
Colin BeckCommunity Leadership Award2011–12[24]
Alex DalleyScholastic Player of the Year2011–12[25]
Kyle MorrisonLeague Top Scorer2012–13
Shayne CampbellLeague Top Goaltender2012-2013
Jacob Fancy and Chris FestariniTop Goal-tending Duo2013-14
Dan PolizianiPlayoff MVP2013-14
Jordan McNaughton League Top Defensemen / CJHL Team East First Team All-Star 2014-2015
Jacob Fancy League Top Goaltender 2015-2016 [26]
Jacob Fancy/Luke Melanson Top Goaltending Tandem - Young/Knickle Trophy(GAA) 2015-2016 [26]
Jimmy Soper MHL Character Award 2015-2016 [26]
Kyle Tibbo MHL Player of the Year, MHL Character Award 2016-2017 [26]
Jason Rioux MHL Playoff MVP 2016-2017 [26]
Campbell Pickard MHL Character Award 2017-2018 [26]
Kevin Resop/Alec MacDonald Top Goaltending Tandem - Young/Knickle Trophy (GAA) 2017-2018 [26]
Luke MacMillan MHL Scholastic Player of the Year, CJHL Academic Player of the Year 2018-2019 [26]
Cole Julian MHL Community Spirit Award 2019-2020 [26]
Bair Gendunov Regular Season Scoring Champion 2020-2021 [26]
Dell Welton MHL Scholastic Player of the Year 2020-2021 [26]
Mavrick Goyer MHL Goaltender of the Year 2021-2022 [26]

Notable alumni

The Truro Bearcats have had many players develop and pass through the organization. Many have gone on to play university hockey and major junior hockey. Truro has also had players move on to play in the National Hockey League or American Hockey League.

See also

References
  1. "1975-76 Truro Jr Bearcats Hockey Team | Truro Sport Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  2. Reyno, Jim. Bearcats scoop up 13-year-old Crosby: [DAILY Edition]. Daily News [Halifax, N.S] 17 June 2001: 77.
  3. Fleming, Carl. Rotating Atlantic Bowl was predictable move: [DAILY Edition]. Daily News [Halifax, N.S] 19 June 2001: 47.
  4. Van Horne, Ryan. Crosby adapting very well: [DAILY Edition]. Daily News [Halifax, N.S] 10 Sep 2001: 32.
  5. "Crosbys-visit-to-market-makes-fans-day". Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  6. Van Horne, Ryan. Mooseheads unbeaten in six: [DAILY Edition]. Daily News [Halifax, N.S] 17 Oct 2001: 51.
  7. Capitals' sniper among leaders: [Final Edition]. Guardian [Charlottetown, P.E.I] 24 Oct 2001: B4.
  8. "About the Central Nova Civic Centre". Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  9. "Bearcats land Fred Page Cup". Truro Daily News. December 5, 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  10. "New arena to open early next month". Truro Daily News. February 13, 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  11. "Bearcats pumped to play in new arena". Truro Daily News. February 13, 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  12. Malloy, Jason (October 10, 2009). "Bearcats looking to limit chances against Lumberjack veterans". Truro Daily News. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  13. "Two heads are better than one | Truro News". www.trurodaily.com.
  14. "Buzzer Beater: Meet your captain | Truro News". www.trurodaily.com.
  15. "Captain Tibbo leads the way | Truro News". www.trurodaily.com.
  16. "Veteran centre Pickard to wear the 'C' for the Bearcats | Truro News". www.trurodaily.com.
  17. "Burton wearing the "C" for junior A Bearcats | Truro News". www.trurodaily.com.
  18. Smith, Joey. "Higgins named captain of Bearcats | SaltWire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  19. MacKenzie, Richard. "Bearcats captain settling back into Truro and junior A | SaltWire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  20. "Bearcat Bytes: Holden Kodak". www.trurojrabearcats.ca. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  21. "Homepage | GOALLINE - Simply Organizing Sport". www.goalline.ca.
  22. "Bearcats win MHL championship | The Journal Pioneer". www.journalpioneer.com.
  23. "Bearcats capture 8th provincial championship". 21 April 2022.
  24. "MHL Announces Awards for Best of 2011-2012". Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  25. "MHL Announces 2011-2012 Scholastic Player of the Year, CJHL RBC Player of the Year Nominee". Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  26. "League Awards". www.themhl.ca.
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