Looking back three busy weeks ago, The Bengals were coming off a successful hosting of the Guelph Regals in which Burlington's Jack Travassos aced all sixteen face-offs for the black-and-gold while gunners Yvon Bolduc and Luke Robinson secured the win on a triplet of power-plays through the opening five minutes of the second period. Final score 9-4. With a record of 4-1-0 they then set sail on a five-game road swing with every intention to run the table.

 

They first journeyed north to Owen Sound's Bayshore arena and prevailed in a game of shifting tides which left Bengals interests uncertain until Cooper Day-Allison restored the visitors' lead with a profound fake combo, toes to the crease, capping a very snappy passing play from Jake Parkinson and Tanner Brennecke on the fly. Final 11-6 Bengals. Lucas Nagy took the game's hammer award for near-flawless goaltending while Carter Schultz snatched the media award on the strength of a few big plays, edging out Ethan Riggs who had laid out an unflinching defense.

Next stop London where the true Blue Devils spotted the tiger side four goals in the first four minutes before mounting their only scare of the game, netting their own pair in the seventh minute before Hamilton would close the deal with another 14 unanswered goals; 8 of the final 9 on power-plays as London understandably lost patience with the whole mess.

 

Eastward then to St Catharines where B's captain Brennecke won the first period three to nothing with some very alert shot placements. He would steal a fourth goal mid-second frame on a low whipper meant to save the shot clock but which found the mesh instead!

 

The Spartans stuck around though, winning the period and entering the third down just a pair. But the Bengals came out gunning with Robinson scoring early, followed by a wicked overhand strike by brand new Bengal Coltrane Tyson. Later Tye Argent added insurance on a highlight-reel sequence set up beautifully by Brennecke and Dawson Brown on a fluid 4-on-4 play, and the Bengals post a 7-1-0 record heading into Windsor for an overnight gig with dates against the Clippers and the Pacers of Point Edward.

Memories of the early-season loss to Windsor were swiftly forgotten as the Bengals, initially hungry to assert dominance, mounted a 7-1 lead through the first half of the game. It seemed though that the scoreboard was cooperating just a bit too easily and then predictably, mental intensity began to slide. The slope was a slippery one. The Clippers returned the favour taking the last half 7-1, then claimed their first lead of the night in the opening two minutes of overtime. Robinson finally pocketed the equalizer in the extra frame's closing two minutes on power-play feeds from Argent and Hunter "Five DIves" Aggus. Presumably both rosters were grateful to escape the affair with a tie, while Bengals insiders, never an easy crowd to please, were left wanting.

 

Day two of the trek and the Pacers were gracious hosts, posing some of the politest defense we've seen this year. The Bengals stormed the red carpet with 8 unanswered first-frame goals en route to a 20-7 final. These included four of six goals from Bengal occasional Trevor Barrett who would receive the Hammer for his efforts, and the statistical game winner from Schultz, primed by Parkinson on the power-play, which at 44% currently ranks third most productive in all Jr. B. The Bengals are meanwhile tops across the league for an 86% penalty kill and also for goals against at 5.0 per game; precisely half the league average.

So what does all this winning amount to? One interprets that the players sense that all is according to plan, even while the most jaded and vocal of Bengals supporters fuss over imperfections. The sports mind though, is rarely one of clarity. Beyond the ubiquitous delusions of tribalism, the common tendencies are optimistic, measuring one's "own" team according to intentions and highest potential while judging opponents by the reverse. Hence everyone thinks "we should have won" or else "we should have won by more!"

 

For some this is all a waiting game; those who feel stumped to make any judgement on this 2019 Bengals squad until they finally meet those they perceive as "fellow elites": The viciously high-scoring Six Nations Rebels and defending Founders Cup champs Elora Mohawks. The latter finally served the former their first defeat of the year just days ago, which has buoyed Bengals faithful across the board. Both Elora match-ups are scheduled within the next five games including a home tilt one week from today at the Dave Andreychuk arena.

 

As for the Bengals top brass: they seem immune to all such emotional perception. They have concrete plans and expectations and this is all business as usual.

 

From this old-timer's perspective several things have become clear: mental intensity can be a hard beast to tether, especially when opposition lags. Yes the B's can be accused to letting it slide at times. But despite some lop-sided scores, no game in this league is a cake walk. These Bengals, to a man, have poured substantial effort and sacrifice into every contest, without which, no opponent is beatable. Their record is hard-fought and well-earned.

The boys have now added two more home wins to the streak, sweeping the seasons against the Welland Generals and most recently, the Owen Sound North Stars where Luke Robinson netted perhaps the goal of the year with an incredibly deft and unlikely scoop-and-shoot through the most thinly-legal crease dive imaginable! He now leads all Junior B with 37 goals while Hamilton's other Lucas, goaltender Nagy, leads all OJBLL netminders with a .872 save percentage.

 

All but two Bengals players say they prefer facing Six Nations over any other opponent! They describe such meetings in terms of energy, intensity, atmosphere, grit, aggression and rivalry. And they're about to get their wish. The Bengals and Rebels clash tonight at the cat house (Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena) at 8:00 PM. It's their only regular season meeting. Should the Black and Gold prevail they will replace Six Nations with the top winning per cent in OJBLL West.

 

I guarantee: you do not want to miss this game! See you tonight.