Blackhawks forward Ethan Bear celebrates his first of three goals during the Blackhawks' 6-2 win over the Mintos on Wednesday. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Beardy's not going down without a fight

Bear scores hat trick in Beardy’s win, a day after they learned this is their last year

Nov 13, 2019 | 10:23 PM

After what they thought was a routine practice on just another Tuesday, the Beardy’s Blackhawks quickly found out that wasn’t the case.

Dale Grayston, who’s been with the Blackhawks for each one of the team’s 25 years and their head coach for all but two of them, told his team that this will be their last year in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. The Saskatchewan Hockey Association made changes to their provincial midget leagues, removing Beardy’s and the Notre Dame Argos, to make way for new clubs in Warman and Estevan.

“It was tough,” Grayston said. “There were some tears shed obviously. It wasn’t easy to do.”

After Grayston delivered the news and left the room, assistant captain Ethan Bear took it upon himself to make sure that the players kept their minds on their Wednesday night game against the third-place Prince Albert Mintos.

“I had a talk with the boys, by myself as one of the captains. I told them not to worry about it, not to think about it and focus on the game,” Bear said. They focused on the game today and they played their hearts out for each other.”

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And just like he did in the room, Bear led the Blackhawks by scoring a hat trick in a stunning 6-2 victory over the Mintos at the Art Hauser Centre.

Bear picked a great night to start scoring. He had one goal through his first 13 games of the season, but turned it on in a big way on Wednesday. He scored just 1:34 into the game by flying on the outside, cutting in behind the Mintos defence and beating goaltender Joel Favreau in close.

As the Mintos scored twice in the third period to cut the Blackhawks’ lead to 4-2, Bear stopped the Mintos’ momentum with a highlight reel goal. He split the defence by poking the puck into the slot, and when Favreau came out to clear it, Bear dove and swatted the puck into the goal. And after the Blackhawks had at least five great chances to score on the Mintos’ empty net, it was Bear who casually flipped it in to make it 6-2 and give him the hat trick.

“He was sitting on one goal all year, but he’s had lots of chances,” Grayston said. “His work ethic has always been so strong this year, so you just have to keep going to the same area and eventually you’re going to have a night like tonight. It’s really special for him.”

“We’re really proud of the guys. Yesterday was a tough day and we really mucked it out.”

This is Bear’s third year in the Blackhawks’ organization. After playing his bantam hockey in Prince Albert from 2016-17, Bear played his 15-year-old season with the AA Blackhawks and got 11 games with the big club. He’s played his last two at the Midget AAA level and didn’t miss a game last year with his team.

“To me, they mean everything,” Bear said of his team. “Everyday, I come to the rink and I like being around the boys. I skate hard for those guys every shift. Every practice, I bust my feet for those guys. Those guys are my team. Those guys are my brothers.

Beardy’s was at the top of Bear’s list when looking to further his hockey career.

“Me being First Nations, Beardy’s was always my first choice. When I cracked their squad, I really wanted to wear the crest with pride,” said Bear, who hails from the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. “I wanted to prove myself and our organization to everyone. Hopefully something changes and we get to be a team again.”

Captain Robert Pizzey and Holden Doell had a goal and two assists each for Beardy’s. Rookie Cole Duperreault had a goal and an assist. Matthew Hennessy made 37 saves in the win.

The Mintos didn’t score until 46:39-mark of the game, when Cooper Chisholm scored on a one-handed backhanded shot, shorthanded to get the Mintos on the board.

Defenceman Tre Fouquette, a signed prospect of the Prince Albert Raiders, scored his first Midget AAA goal to get the Mintos within striking distance at 4-2 with half a period left. Fouquette’s point shot slipped around the pad of Blackhawks goaltender Matthew Hennessy.

The Blackhawks will hope to make the rest of this year count, as it will be their last unless there is some drastic change. After being with the team since it’s first day, Grayston is looking back and remembering the good times.

“We’ve had so many great memories,” Grayston said. “We’re just so thankful with so many people that helped out.

“Hopefully we can keep that going.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW