With a potential playoff matchup looming, the Yarmouth Junior A Mariners still can’t beat the Bearcats.
For the sixth time this season between the clubs, the Mariners came up short.
Most games have been decided by one goal, but tonight it was a 9-3 blowout loss in Truro.
Bearcats Captain Kyle Tibbo scored a hat-trick to lead the way offensively.
The Mariners fell behind 4-0 in the first period, forcing Head Coach and GM Laurie Barron to pull starting goalie Justin Ritcey.
The 20 year old allowed four goals on 12 shots.
Leif Hertz would come in to start the second period, but allowed a goal 43 seconds in to Denver Lynds.
Hertz let in five goals on 14 shots.
The Mariners were missing forward Matt Barron and defenseman Noah McMullin due to injury. Barron is out indefinitely and McMullin is aiming to return for the start of the playoffs in two weeks.
The ugly loss put the Mariners four points behind Truro for second place in the Eastlink South Division and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Mariners have four games left in the regular season and a game in hand on Truro.
Yarmouth will hit the road again this weekend to face the Summerside Western Capitals on Saturday night, and the Dieppe Commandos on Sunday.
Two home games will finish the season, March 10th against Valley and March 11th versus South Shore.
In other action tonight, the Amherst Ramblers fell 5-4 in overtime to the Miramichi Timberwolves.
The Ramblers trail Yarmouth by three points for third place.
