Bruins come to end of successful season
Roger Varley
On Tuesday, April 19, almost 800 fans jammed into the Uxbridge arena for the sixth game - and what proved to be the Bruins' last appearance of the 2025-26 season - in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference series against the Frankford Huskies.
The Bruins went into the game with the series at 3-2 in the Huskies' favour. They came close to tying the series but fell short, losing the game 4-3.
THE FINAL SHOT - The Bruins score what would prove to be their final goal of the 2025-2026 season during last Tuesday’s Eastern Conference series game against the Frankford Huskies. The Bruins lost the game 4-3. Photo by John Cavers
The Bruins missed two golden opportunities in the first period. About six minutes into the game, the Frankford goalie found himself stranded outside the goal crease, but a shot from the Bruins hit the goal post. A few minutes later, Trent Nobes had a breakaway while the Bruins were short-handed but tripped as he raced in on the net. As the period wound down, Frankford scored to take the lead.
The second period saw the teams battle back and forth until Benson Moore scored, assisted by Jack Kemp, on a shot from the point with just three minutes remaining. But the Bruins allowed the Huskies to score a short-handed goal with only 33 seconds left.
Cameron Meek tied the game again early in the third, assisted by Darin Bain and Isaac Mengers, but the Huskies stormed back with a power-play marker and a fourth goal. With two minutes remaining, the Bruins pulled netminder Robbie DiMaria for a extra attacker and Ryan Shier scored at the one-minute mark to make it 4-3. Assists went to Jack Kemp and Jordan Bonner. But the Bruins were unable to find the tying goal and the Huskies won the Eastern Conference title.
As the Huskies celebrated with the Eastern Conference championship pennant, the Bruins fans gave their team a standing ovation and did not leave the arena until the Bruins had left the ice.
Despite the loss, it was a successful year for the Bruins. In the regular season, the Bruins topped the Orr Division, winning 35 games and losing only six, for the second best record in the entire Provincial Junior Hockey League. They then went on to win the Orr Division playoffs and the Cougar Cup.
Goalie DiMaria had a 1.39 goals-against average in the regular season, best in the league, and a 1.73 average in the playoffs. In the regular season, Shier led the team with 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points and Bain scored 26 goals and recorded 20 assists for 46 points.
The Bruins next game will be sometime in September.
The Uxbridge Cosmos congratulates the Bruins on a great season!