Bruins are 1-1 in final series against Clarington Eagles

Roger Varley

Buckle up, Bruins fans, it could be a bumpy ride!

The Uxbridge Bruins opened their best-of-seven games final series against the Clarington Eagles in convincing fashion at the arena last Friday, emerging with a 6-1 victory. However, two nights later, the Eagles showed they were not going to be push-overs by edging the Bruins 4-3.

Both games featured numerous heavy checks by both teams.

In Friday's game, the Bruins scored two goals within 12 seconds in the middle of the first period, causing the Eagles to take an early time-out. The goals were scored by Danny Thomakos, assisted by Trent Nobes, and by Jack Kemp, assisted by captain Tanner Ryan.

Late in the second, Evan Gilbert took a long pass and streaked in for the score. Assists went to Jordan Fitger and Bensen Moore. As the period wound down, Nobes added another goal, assisted by Gilbert and Thomakos.

Moore made it 5-0 six minutes into the third, with assists going to Colin Glecoff and Josh Hall. A minute later, Clarington's Owen White spoiled Robbie DiMaria's shutout bid, but Ryan Shier, aided by Thomakos and Tanner Ryan, finished the scoring with a power-play goal while Clarington had two men in the penalty box.

That was Friday. On Sunday, in Clarington, the Bruins made too many mistakes and seemed to lack communication on the ice. That led to two Eagles goals in the first period.

The Bruins regrouped in the second and evened the score with markers from Kyle Butt, helped by Cameron Meek and Glecoff, and an unassisted goal by Tyson Lotton.

But the Bruins continued to make mistakes in the third. Clarington re-established the lead early and then, after DiMaria made a great save on a breakaway shot, added to the lead at the midway point. As the period wound down, Darin Bain reduced the gap to one goal. With just over a minute remaining, DiMaria was pulled in favour of an extra attacker and the Bruins stormed the Eagles' net but to no avail.

The two teams were scheduled to return to action Tuesday night at the arena. They play again Thursday in Clarington and come back to the arena Friday night at 7:45p.m.

Given the hits in the first two games, fans can likely expect to see some more physical action as the series continues.

Bear pause: The Bruins and Eagles observed a minute of silence before the start of last Friday's game in honour of Art Feld, the long-time owner of the Little Britain Merchants, who passed away recently. Field founded the Merchants in 1978