WESTVILLE ROAD, N.S.
Somebody, wake up the offence.
The Junior A Crushers dropped their fifth straight game on Thursday at the Pictou County Wellness Centre (PCWC), a 4-1 loss to the streaking Truro Bearcats.
The Crushers, who have scored just eight goals in those five games, came out hitting against Truro, but fell behind early when Jaden Hewes found himself with a loose puck, all alone in front of the Crushers’ net. With enough time to bake a loaf of bread if he’d wanted, Hewes beat netminder Andrew MacLeod on a sneaky backhand.
Jason Imbeault scored a shorthanded goal midway through the period for Truro (who added some big pieces at the trade deadline), and the ’Cats struck twice on the power play in the second frame – making it look easy while doing so – and the Crushers too often were sloppy with the puck and seemed rushed by the Bearcats.
Evan Gallant scored his 10th goal of the year early in the third, but Truro goaltender Alex MacDonald shut the door the rest of the way, in a 30-save night.
Pictou County will try to break the skid on Saturday at the PCWC, when they entertain the Amherst Ramblers, who on Jan. 4 beat the Crushers 6-0 at Amherst Stadium. Amherst had won three straight.
BY THE NUMBERS
Pictou County Crushers
Record: 18-13-2 (2nd place, South Division)
Top Scorers: Dallas Farrell (18G, 18A), Logan Vande Meerakker (11G, 17A), (Keenan Gillis (4G, 17A), Andrew Burden (9G, 10A), Kevin Mason (9G, 9A).
Amherst Ramblers
Record: 18-15-1 (3rd place, South Division)
Top Scorers: Caleb Rich (16G, 32A), Cole Waugh (17G, 20A), Robbie Burt (23G, 8A), Max Boudreau (9G, 21A), Stephen Fox (11G, 16A).
