LAURIE WEIR
The Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears dropped a crucial game Friday night at home, falling 5-2 to the Ottawa Jr. Senators—one of the teams they’re battling for a playoff spot in the Central Canada Hockey League.
With the loss, the Bears, Senators, Hawkesbury Hawks and Kemptville 73’s are now deadlocked in fifth place. The Pembroke Lumber Kings sit just one point back in ninth.
The Bears were scheduled to visit Pembroke on Wednesday, but that game has been postponed. They return to action Monday, Feb. 17, when they host the Brockville Braves at 7:30 p.m.
OTTAWA 5, SMITHS FALLS 2
Smiths Falls struck first and last in front of 335 fans but couldn’t generate much offence in between.
Ben Whitford opened the scoring at 18:57 of the first period, converting on a power play with assists from Tyson Parker and Travis Ouellette.
Ottawa responded with three unanswered goals in the second period, as Antoine Demers, Ethan Lobe and Justin Ouellette found the back of the net to put the Senators up 3-1.
The visitors kept rolling in the third, adding goals from Jack Matsukubo and Ouellette—his second of the night, this time on the power play—to make it 5-1.
Travis Ouellette pulled one back for Smiths Falls at 15:40, assisted by Xavier Tessier, but that was as close as the Bears got.
Justin Ouellette was named first star with two goals and an assist for Ottawa. The Senators’ Josh Demers took second-star honours, while Smiths Falls’ Travis Ouellette earned third star with a goal and an assist.
The Bears outshot the Senators 44-31. Josh Scully picked up the win in goal for Ottawa, while Ethan Morrow took the loss for Smiths Falls.
For the remainder of February, the Bears are at home.
On Friday, Feb. 21, Carleton Place is in town at 7:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, Feb. 23, the Bears will host Hawkesbury, before closing out February next Friday when they host Kemptville.
