Bruins ousted from playoffs
Roger Varley
And just like that, the Uxbridge Bruins' 2023-24 season is over! The local Junior C squad lost four straight games to the Georgina Ice in the PJHL's Orr Division semi-finals, with the final defeat coming at the arena on Saturday.
After losing the first game 6-2 in Georgina on Sunday, March 10, the Bruins hosted the Ice at the arena last Wednesday, taking an early lead in the first period. But, although the Bruins handed out lots of hits, the Ice surged back with three goals, including two power-play markers, before the period ended.
The Bruins appeared set for a come-back; however, the Ice stormed back once more to notch two more goals. Georgina rounded out the scoring for the 6-3 win.
The Cosmos selected Uxbridge's Ty Roberts and Georgina's Austin Paulmert as players of the game.
Back in Georgina on Friday night, the Bruins made a stronger showing but lost 3-2. The Ice scored in the first minute of the game and the Bruins' Tanner Ryan responded as the first period wound down. Georgina notched the only goal of the second period and Nolan Winter teamed with Noah Button in the first minute of the third to tie the game. The Ice scored their third goal just 40 seconds later.
In the final game on Saturday, Georgina dominated the first period, scoring three goals in the first eight minutes. That led to Uxbridge pulling starting goalie Andrew Claughton and replacing him with Christian Lambert.
In the third period, the Bruins finally came alive. Button scored a power-play goal just 40 seconds into the stanza, and repeated the effort 30 seconds later. However, a double penalty gave the Ice a two-man advantage for a full two minutes and they quickly capitalized with another power-play goal. Later in the period, an empty-netter with one minute left in the game put the lid on the series.
The Cosmos selected Winter of the Bruins and Cameron McClachrie of the Ice as players of the game.
Georgina next faces the winner of the other semi-final series between the Clarington Eagles and the Lakefield Chiefs. As of press time, Clarington led that series 2-1.