Embracing the underdog role

Wildcats play Bearcats in first round of junior A playoffs

The Valley Wildcats don’t have far to look for inspiration as they enter the postseason as underdogs against the Truro Bearcats.

“Last year, nobody expected us to go far, do much, and I think we proved everybody wrong,” said goalie Justin Bourque. “And that’s kind of the mindset we’re going into this year with. We believe in ourselves; we know we have a group of guys in there that can win any hockey game against any team.”

Truro (33-16-1-2) finished second in the Maritime Junior Hockey League’s Eastlink South Division, 21 points ahead of Valley (22-26-3-1).

Valley finished fourth in the division in 2021-22 before knocking off top-ranked Yarmouth in six games. They then pushed Truro to a deciding seventh game in the semifinal.

“We were definitely the underdogs,” co-captain Ethan Landry said of the Yarmouth series.

“We just wanted it more. We played physical, we were playing gritty, we were getting under their skin. I think it’s just going to take that same kind of effort (this year).”

Truro went 6-2-0-0 against Valley this season, including winning the last four meetings dating back to Nov. 23. It included closing out the regular season with a 3-1 win March 11 in Berwick.

“They have a very good hockey team,” Valley head coach Brandon Benedict said of a deep Bearcats squad. “We have our work cut out for us. … We know going into this, it’s going to be a battle.”

Valley will need to play to its identity of finishing its checks and playing with speed while getting contributions from everyone wearing the team’s sweater.

“There’s not going to be many secrets. We have to play hard, we have to be physical,” Benedict said.

“We need that kind of

mentality where that will and that want has got to be there. Playoff hockey is a completely different level than the regular season and it’s the team and the individual players who are able to rise to the occasion and bring that intensity level up to another level (who) are going to have success.”

While Truro had a much better regular season, the impacts of the 52-game schedule essentially means home-ice advantage. Landry said his teammates believe they can win the series.

“We’re a confident group. We’ve played them the last few games; we didn’t get the result we wanted but we know we’re right there with them,” he said.

“Everybody loves a good underdog story.”

Bourque added: “We know they’re a good team, we’re a good team, so we’re getting ready for a big playoff run.”

The series winner will play the winner of the YarmouthPictou County series. The other division has topranked Edmundston playing fourth-seeded Miramichi and second-seeded Summerside meeting third-place Campbellton.

LAST RUN

Bourque is one of seven Wildcats who are playing their final season of junior hockey.

“Years go by fast, right?” he said. “Just trying to enjoy it with the boys, enjoy every game, enjoy every second and be ready for the playoffs.”

The list includes co-captain Ethan Kearney, Jason Kwestel, Josh Crooks, Aiden Clarke, Matt Power and Landry.

“It’s really special for me and the 20s, being our last year of junior,” Landry said, and “wanting to leave your legacy.”

Four of the veterans (Kearney, Landry, Clarke and Power) sit in the top six of the franchise’s all-time games played list.

HEALTH CHECKUP

The Wildcats played their final game of the regular season without brothers Matt and Joe Power, both defencemen, as well as forward Cole Foston. Both Powers were sick and their status going

forward was not clear on March 11. Foston was listed as day-to-day.