The Bracebridge Bears atom A rep team completed their undefeated run in the Muskoka-Parry Sound playoffs with a convincing 7-3 win over the favoured Highland Storm on Thursday. The win completed a two-game sweep of their best-of-three final, and coupled with a three-game, first-round sweep of Parry Sound, the Bears boasted a perfect record in their league playoffs.

The Bracebridge atoms opened the scoring with just over three minutes remaining in the opening period when Ted Davis took a pass from Everette Nudd in the slot and sent a hard wrist shot over the Storm goalie. With time running out in the opening frame and the Bears killing a penalty, Sean Ross took an outlet pass from Jackson Wood and powered around the Haliburton defenceman before letting go a shot from the hash marks that beat the goalie five hole.

Bears winger Ryan Brunskill increased the lead to 3-0 in the first minute of the second, poking in the rebound after a goalmouth scramble.

Assists went to line mates George Wood and Jackson Wood. After the Storm got on the board, Bracebridge’s Logan Nancekievill restored the three-goal cushion when he slapped in a rebound from a Sam Collins offering.

Austin Rooney also drew an assist on the play. Nancekievill added his second of the contest in the last minute of the middle frame when Owen Hansen sent a beautiful long pass up the middle, putting Nancekievill in alone. He went top shelf for the Bears’ fifth goal. Hansen’s defence partner Matthew Jobson also added an assist.

With the series on the line the Storm came out hard in the third and managed to draw to within two with an early goal. With just over two minutes to play and Haliburton’s frustration level leading to penalties, the Bears scored on the power play. Defenceman Kirsten Macdougall’s hard slapshot from the point was deflected by Ross. The goalie made the save but Davis was there to pounce on the rebound and bury it.

Bracebridge struck again with time running out, when Nancekievill completed his hat trick. Collins sent it to Rooney behind the Storm net, and Rooney made a pretty feed to Nancekievill who was alone in the slot.

He made no mistake in sending it home.

Goalies Emerson Maher and Owen Nudd split the duties in this final game, both coming up with key saves to thwart the Highland Storm shooters.

Defencemen Hansen, Jobson, Macdougall and Everette Nudd gave the Storm little room to get going, while captain George Wood led the Bears with his physical play.

Coach Dan Wood was very proud of his charges, and the way they improved throughout the season. Their fast-skating, hard-working style of play frustrated the first-place Haliburton squad, who never could get on track in the finals. The Fowler atoms end their season with an April tournament in Pickering.