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Bears bounce back with big wins over Cumberland, Kanata Friday in Hawkesbury, the Bears only mustered 21 shots on red-hot goalie Carmine Guerriero. He turned all but one aside (including three breakaways) and the Hawks, in a dogfight with the Kanata Stallions for the eighth and final playoff spot, bounced back from a 1-0 first period deficit to win 3-1. Team captain Connor McLaren had the lone goal for Smiths Falls while Zach Car, Roman Ammirato and JeanPierre Larmoyeux connected for the Hawks.
By PAGE TAYLOR
EMC Sports – Talk about bounce-back games. After dropping a 3-1 decision to the Hawks in Hawkesbury on Friday night, the Smiths Falls Bears trounced the struggling Cumberland Grads 10-0 in Navan Sunday afternoon, then shutout the Kanata Stallions in Kanata 3-0 Tuesday night. The back-to-back shutouts have vaulted the team into fourth place overall in the CCHL standings, one point ahead of rivals Nepean Raiders and Pembroke Lumber Kings and two up on the Brockville Braves. With four games remaining in the regular season, the lopsided wins leave the Bears (35-20-1-2 for 73 points) in the thick of the race for a top 4 spot in the standings and home ice advantage for the first round of the Central Canada Hockey League playoffs. “We weren’t happy with our Friday night game,� said Walter Dubas, assistant coach. “We weren’t happy with the effort and compete level.� It was a completely different story on Sunday where the Bears dominated every facet of the game from start to finish. There was no intent to run up the score though. “We tried very hard to work on systems and structure� through the third period, Dubas said. The puck just kept finding its way to the back of the Grads’ net. “It was one of those games where we played extremely well� while the youthful Grads struggled to get anything rolling. The Bears left nothing to chance on Sunday scoring four times in the first period with Blaine Byron, Ryan
Photos by ASHLEY KULP
All members of the Smiths Falls Bears (background) participate in Saturday’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake at Gratton Lanes in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lanark County. At right, Tara Gesner, reporter for the EMC newspaper team ‘Whomp Spare It Is’, lines up her toss down the alley Feb. 23 at this year’s successful fundraiser. Eardley, Michael Buonincontri and Stefano Momesso beating Grads goalie Devan Tremblay. His afternoon ended early in the second when Nic Marchand scored at the 3:17 mark to make it 5-0. Reilly Turner came on in relief and seemed to steady the ship, but the Bears’ offence exploded again in the third with Marchand adding his second of the game just 17 seconds into the frame. More goals followed in quick succession from Yannick Crete, Karson McCartney (with two)
and Chris Maniccia who put the Bears into double digits for the first time this season. Bears goalie Patrick Martin earned his league-leading sixth shutout of the season, stopping all 35 shots directed his way. The veteran netminder, playing in his final season of junior hockey, has played well down the stretch and will be counted on as the club heads to the post season. “This is why we brought him in,� said Dubas of the offseason trade with the Grads to get Martin.
Young back-up Jimmy Howe, who started Tuesday’s game in Kanata, has been sharp all year and has provided the club with a dependable one-two combination. “For a first-year player, we’re very happy with him,�
Dubas said. Howe recorded his first shutout of the season on Tuesday in Kanata, making 32 saves in the 3-0 win. Goal scorers were Yannick Crete, Patrick Sexton and Nic Marchand.
Upcoming action This is a huge week for the Bears that will go a long to determining where they end up in the standings. “With the standings the way they are‌we could be in third place by the end of the week,â€? Dubas said, but only if they pick up victories. “We have to make home ice our goal.â€? After playing at Kanata on Tuesday (Feb. 26) and at Hawkesbury again on Wednesday (Feb. 27), the Bears next take on the Nepean Raiders at home this Friday, March 1. On Sunday, March 3, the team travels to Cornwall to face the Colts, followed by a trip to the Earl Armstrong Arena to face the Gloucester Rangers to close out the regular season on Friday, March 8. All games start at 7:30 p.m. With files from Ryland Coyne.
SMITHS FALLS SMITHS FALLS R.R. #1 LOMBARDY ROAD
(613) 283-4411
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Photo by SABINE GIBBINS
EMC Sports - Young skaters from across the region laced up their skates for the Region 4 Interclub Competition, hosted by the Rideau Lakes Figure Skating Club in Smiths Falls on Saturday. The competition was a chance for figure skaters to showcase their skills and abilities to adoring families and friends and be critiqued by a panel of judges.
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THE EMC - SF15 - Thursday, February 28, 2013
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