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.

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.
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 During the 2001-02 season, as a call-up, Crosby played a two-game call-up stint with the Bearcats. 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. 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 .
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. 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.

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.
2009–present
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.
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		GF GAPResults
Results
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
2015-1648251553134116581st South4th MHLLost Quarter-final
2016-1750351311196154722nd South3rd MHLWon Div. Semifinal 4-1
Won Div. Finals 4-1
Won League Finals 4-3
MJAHL Champions
2017-1850282011150130584 of 6 South6 - 12 MHLLost Div. Semifinal 3-4

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.

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.

Franchise records

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

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 = Seasons played with franchise
NameGAPTSSeason
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
;Season

Team captains

Team awards

Individual awards

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.