The Smiths Falls Bears opened their 2026-27 CCHL season Friday night with a solid 5-3 win over the Cornwall Colts at the Den.
After reaching the Bogart Cup final last season, the team returned to the ice with both seasoned veterans and plenty of fresh faces.
The Colts, however, claimed the first goal of the game at 11:18 of the first period, scored by Dax McKinnon. But the Bears quickly tied the game at 12:55 with a goal by Olivier Benoit, assisted by Marc Antoine Riopel and Kade Hockenhull. Weston Ebrahim put the Bears into the lead less than a minute later at 13:39, assisted by Evan Simeoni.
The Bears continued to build their lead during the second period. Ebrahim scored his second goal of the game at 1:16, set up by Simeoni and Xavier Carroll. Shane Delamaire followed at 13:00, assisted by Simon Bourque and Nolan Burchett.
Hockenhull gave the Bears an insurance goal a mere 30 seconds into the third period, helped by Riopel and Jacob Smith. But the Colts proved they still had enough energy left and countered with the final two goals of the game, at 5:37 by Timothy Walker and at 8:41 by Owen Converse.
Cornwall outshot the Bears 43-32, with Bears goalie Logan Heideman facing 20 shots in the third period and finishing the game with 40 saves.
First star went to Ebrahim for his two goals, second star was awarded to Converse, and Hockenhull took third star.
Photos and game coverage by Chris Uhlig.
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