SMITHS FALLS, ON — Behind a multi-goal performance from Weston Ebrahim and a 40-save effort by Logan Heideman between the pipes, the Smiths Falls Bears opened their 2026–27 campaign on home ice with an energetic 5-3 victory over the Cornwall Colts on Friday evening.
After Dax McKinnon broke the ice for the Colts midway through the opening frame at 11:18, the Bears responded immediately with a pair of quick strikes. Olivier Benoit knotted the score at 12:55 off feeds from Marc Antoine Riopel and Kade Hockenhull. Just 44 seconds later, Ebrahim notched his first of the season from Evan Simeoni to send Smiths Falls into the intermission holding a 2-1 lead.
Smiths Falls seized control in the second period. Ebrahim went right back to work just 1:16 into the frame, converting on a setup from Simeoni and Xavier Carroll to extend the advantage to 3-1. At 13:00, Shane Delamaire capitalized on passes from Simon Bourque and Nolan Burchett to push the Bears’ cushion to three.
Hockenhull widened the gap to 5-1 just 30 seconds into the final period, assisted by Riopel and Jacob Smith. While Cornwall mounted a spirited pushback with goals from Timothy Walker (5:37) and Owen Converse (8:41) to pull within two, Heideman stood tall under heavy pressure, turning away 11 of 13 shots in the third period to seal the two points.
Cornwall outshot the Bears 43-32 overall, but Heideman’s 40-save clinic slammed the door when it mattered most. Both penalty kill units held firm on the night, with the Bears finishing 0-for-2 on the power play and Cornwall going 0-for-1.
Three Stars of the Game
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1st Star: Weston Ebrahim (SF) — 2 Goals
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2nd Star: Owen Converse (COR) — 1 Goal, 1 Assist
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3rd Star: Kade Hockenhull (SF) — 1 Goal, 1 Assist
