Chris Uhlig
editorial@pdgmedia.ca

While the groundhog might have predicted another six weeks of winter,  the Smiths Falls Bears have definitely come out of hibernation. On Friday night (Feb. 2) the team delivered another home ice win at the Den, this time in overtime against the Rockland Nationals.

Rockland’s Alex Robert scored the first goal of the game at 6.22. The Bears tied the game at the 17.41 mark with a power play goal by Alex DiCarlo, assisted by Bruce Coltart and Mitchell Larabie.

Some unplanned excitement occurred during the intermission pause, when a fire alarm forced an evacuation of the building.

The second period started off with a goal by the Bears, coming from Matthieu Franche with assists by Hunter Garlasco and Michael Larose, bringing the Bears to a lead. Larose extended the lead with another goal at the 12.49 mark, with assists credited to Franche and DiCarlo.

Rockland struck back with a score by Dallas Maurovic at the 14.29 mark. The second period ended with a 3-2 tally on the board in favour of the Bears.

A high-sticking penalty by the Bears cost them the lead in the third period when Rockland scored a powerplay goal just seconds later at the 4.09 mark by Trevor Coykendall.

With both teams tied 3-3, a decision was forced 21 seconds into overtime with a goal by Alex DiCarlo, assisted by Hunter Garlasco and Bruce Coltart, for a final result of 4-3.

The Bears outshot the Nationals 38 to 33 shots total for the game.

First star went to Dicarlo (SFB), second star went to Alex Robert (ROC), and third star went to Matthieu Franche (SFB).