Hats off to Bracey as Bears skate into GNASH finals

Senior assistant captain Justin Bracey launched Mt. Juliet into the GNASH championship game with a hat trick in a 6-2 victory over Pope John Paul II, the only team to beat the Bears this season, Sunday.
Bracey holds the record as the team's all time leading scorer.
The Bears started slowly, failing to score until 12:06 into the game. Brian Lawson scored on assists from Bracey and Brandon Thompson. Twenty seconds later, Bracey took a pass from James Lynch and buried the puck to put Mt. Juliet up 2-0.
Bracey added another goal early in the second period, assisted by Jeong Choe, and the Golden Bear defense held. Jacob Dilts put the puck in the net halfway through the period to put Mt. Juliet up 4-0.
Lynch and Bracey connected again with 12:54 to go to add to the lead. Pope John Paul put two goals on the board with 4:56 and 3:50 to go in the game to cut the advantage to 5-2. Tommy Lynch added the final goal with :44 left.
Bears goalie Andrew Manes stopped 28 of 30 Knights shots. Mt. Juliet will face either Pope John Paul II, Ravenwood or Montgomery Bell Academy in the finals of the GNASH Tournament at 7 p.m. Friday at Nashville's Centennial Sportsplex.