Bruins continue to flounder
Roger Varley
In three back-to-back games last week, the Uxbridge Bruins were outscored 17-7, resulting in two losses and a narrow win.
Half of those opposing goals came last Thursday when the league-leading Clarington Eagles downed the Bruins 8-2 to solidify their hold on top spot. The Eagles have won 22 of the 25 games they have played so far this season.
Clarington opened the game with four goals in the first 10 minutes, while Nolan Winter responded for Uxbridge, assisted by Tom Nitsopoulos and Brandon Scott. The Eagles added three more goals in the second period and one in the third before Ryan Shier combined with Scott and Tanner Ryan to score a power-play goal.
Returning to the arena the following night, it was a case of déja vu as the Georgina Ice scored five goals before the Bruins hit the scoreboard. Three goals came in the first period, including a power-play marker, and two more were scored in the first two minutes of the second period. Ryan managed to notch a short-handed goal after picking up a loose puck near the midway mark, but Georgina scored again before the period ended.
Colin Glecoff, assisted by Ryan, scored early in the third, but Georgina had the last word, scoring their seventh goal with minutes left in the game.
The Cosmos selected Ryan as player of the game for Uxbridge, and Ronnie Wiersema of the Ice.
On Saturday, the Bruins travelled to Little Britain to face the Merchants and managed to squeeze out a 3-2 win. After a scoreless first period, the Bruins scored two power-play goals within the first two minutes of the second period. Ryan scored the first, assisted by Winter and Jack Kemp, just 18 seconds after the face-off, followed in short order by Kemp's goal, with Glecoff and Winter assisting.
In the third period, the Merchants showed signs of a comeback, scoring two unanswered goals in the first 20 minutes. It wasn't until the last 25 seconds that Tyler Laita found the net for the winning goal, assisted by Kemp and Ryan.
The Bruins return to home ice tomorrow (Friday) at 7:45 p.m. to face the third-place Schomberg Cougars. They will then have a week off before hosting the Eagles.