Bruins take revenge on the LumberJacks

Roger Varley

In six previous meetings this season, the Port Perry LumberJacks defeated the Uxbridge Bruins every time. On Friday, in the final match-up of the season, the Bruins exacted sweet revenge, thumping their arch-rivals 7-1.

The Bruins went on the attack from the opening whistle and hit the LumberJacks goal posts three times in the first period. Ryan Shier finally found the net on a power play near the middle of the period, assisted by Nolan Winter and Tanner Ryan.

In the second period, the Bruins notched two more goals within the first three minutes. Darin Bain scored what eventually proved to be the winning goal, assisted by Jordan Bonner and Lucas Marshall, followed quickly by Marshall's goal, with assists going to Jack Kemp and Bain. That led to the LumberJacks taking an early time-out. That didn't help as 10 minutes later Evan Gilbert weaved his way past a couple of Port Perry defenders to score the fourth goal, assisted by Shier. That led to the LumberJacks changing goalies.

The onslaught continued in the third, with Bonner scoring on a shot from the point, assisted by Ryan and Gilbert. Winter scored on the power play near the midway mark, assisted by Kemp. As the period wound down, Tristan Vedovat-Leite stole the puck while the Bruins were a man down and streaked down the ice for an unassisted short-handed goal.

Robbie DiMaria's bid for a shut-out was stymied late in the period when Port Perry's Kyle Den Ouden scored a power-play goal.

The Cosmos named Winter as the player of the game for Uxbridge and chose Johannes Kalm as the top player for the LumberJacks.

In Little Britain the following day, the Bruins and the Merchants traded goals in the first two periods, but Uxbridge scored the lone goal of the third for the win.

Gilbert opened the scoring, with assists going to Ryan and Ayden Burt, but the Merchants responded with a power-play marker.

Little Britain took the lead in the second until Jake Rigillo tied the score, assisted by newcomer Josh Pereira and Mateo Guerrieri.

The lone goal of the final period came courtesy of Pereira, with Charlie Wesholowski credited with the assist.

Sunday's scheduled game against the Caledon Golden Hawks was postponed because of the snow storm.

As of press time, the Bruins were in fourth place in the seven-team Orr Division, one point ahead of the LumberJacks. Each team has one game remaining in the regular season, But while Uxbridge has to take on the lowly Golden Hawks, Port Perry has to face the league-leading Clarington Eagles. That game was scheduled for last night (Wednesday) while the Uxbridge-Caledon game date has yet to be announced.