The Bears amazing winning streak came to a screeching halt last Friday at the home game against the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Some spectators attributed the 2:4 loss to a lack of discipline with the defense, others perceived the refereeing to be one-sided not giving the team a break, but the major reasons for the loss lay elsewhere. One doesn’t win a game from the tranquility of the penalty bench, and giving up a power play advantage just to argue with the officials displayed a complete lack of judgement of the situation. The lackluster play over considerable portions of the game occasional evoked images of bored kids pushing their broccoli across the dinner plate rather than an action filled hockey game. One can only hope that the team finds its fighting spirit back soon.
The Lumber Kings pulled ahead with a score by Andrew Poulias at &:32 in the otherwise uneventful first period.
Brent Broaders, assisted by Ryan Richardson and Shawn Sloan, achieve the balance at 6:57 in the second period, and Brendan Dempsey pushed the team ahead with a power play goal at 11:43, assisted by Bruce Coltart and Brent Broaders. However Pembroke pulled even soon after with a goal by Brady Egan at 14:24.
A ten minute major penalty for Match-Slew Footing just a little after half way in the third period should have given the Bears a much needed opportunity to decide the game in their favour, but, as already mentioned earlier, they negated their advantage through unneeded penalties. Fletcher Anderson’s score at 11:37 propelled the Kings to the winning lead instead. Taking out the goalie during the last minute of play just provided Pembroke with yet another chance to score, taken up by Cameron Hough at 19:44.
Brent Broaders earned First Star, Fletcher Anderson (PLK) was awarded Second Star, and Brendan Dempsey received Third Star.
A noteworthy moment occurred when the team acknowledged Robbie Hull, wishing him fast recovery from surgery – a truly nice touch of the evening.
The next home game happens this Friday at 7:30pm, when the Bears will face Navan at the Den. Hope to see you all there to support the team.
