Four words to sum up this early morning encounter between the Bears and the Sharks: “He shoots. He scores!” The two sides combined for a total of 14 goals in regulation time, splitting a combined total of 27 points in goals and assists. The unquestionable top dog in this GAA shattering match-up was sharp-shooting Ronan Wilson, who tallied a whopping 4 goals for the Sharks. The “silent assassin” (shout - out to DC for that one) was in top form this morning and set to push his way up into 6 th in the league’s scoring race.

The Bears came out early, barely three and a half in, when Bob Macleod handed off to Jason Roy for the first goal of the game. The Sharks, still waiting for the coffee to kick-in, evened it up on Wilson’s first, off a Steve Mossing slapper that Matt Stever managed to redirect just enough to generate a rebound onto Wilson’s stick.

The second saw four goals, the first putting the Bears briefly up 2-1 on a Mike Thorburn rush, on a pass from Steve Clark. Thorburn deftly undressed Sharks goalie, Greg Macintosh, his first of several attacks that dominated the Bears’ offense. If there was a category for wheels in this years’ award selection, Thorburn would walk away with it hands down. This young rookie moves the puck and dominates possession almost every time he is on the ice. It was a game of catch and chase from there on, with the Sharks (Wilson) getting another at 6minutes in, Steve Clark putting the Bears up on a solo efforts to put the Bears up again, then Wilson potting his third with just 50 seconds left, leaving it even at 3.

Into the third where goalies Macintosh and Chang Jun would see their save percentages pounded into submission, where a bonanza of eight goals were score in this 20 minute stanza. Captain Greg Walsh capitalized on line mate’s, Steve Clark’s effort to put the Bears up again, only to have young Shark, Alex Peng, bank one off of an opposing defenceman’s skate and past the tender to even things up again barely 3 minutes later. Bears up again, on a goal by Bob Macleod, until Wilson got his fourth of the night on an backhand tip going top cheese off yet another Matt Stever ripper. The Sharks looked poised and went ahead for the first time in the match-up, when an Andrei Raschenia clearing pass was picked up by Hubert Lee, catching the Bears by surprise and making it 6-5 Sharks. Hats off to the Sharks, as Lee and line mate Kevin Lu put on what will arguably be the best after goal celebration of the year, were it not for Captain Kennedy trying to muscle in and share the love. Nice try, kid, but those moves don’t even work at Players on a sleazy Saturday night!

Bears never go softly and never say “Screw this; it’s time for brunch at the Cain”, at least until business on the ice is done. Jason Roy potted his second of the game, only to have the Sharks strike back on a goal by rookie, Kevin Lu off yet another rebound from a Steve Mossing zinger. The tale looked to be told, when the Bears made a surprise move pulling goalie Chang with close to 2 minutes remaining. Gaining possession at his own blue line and seeing lots of open ice, veteran defenseman Steve Clark howled at the young tender to get to the bench. Six strong and swarming, Justin Menzies, banged home the equalizer on, you guessed it, a feed from Clark. Regulation finished a tie, despite a Thorburn breakaway with 14 seconds left. It looked like a sure bet, except for goalie Macintosh’s resolve, or Kenny Dryden size goalie pads, to prove otherwise.

As with so many this season, this game went to shoot out. Winning the toss, Menzies rattled one off the side of the net for the Bears. Red hot Ronan Wilson was shut down on his try. Steve Clark went low outside post to put the Bears ahead, then Thorburn sealed it on a reprise of his dying seconds rush; who says you never get a second chance, eh Mikey! Bears take the extra point and look strong headed into the playoffs.

Condor Associated Press 3 Stars:

1 - Ronan Wilson (4 goals)

2 – Jason Roy (2 goals)