Bruins off to a hot start in new season
Roger Varley
It's a little early to jump on the bandwagon, but the Uxbridge Bruins Junior C team is off to a hot start for the 2025-26 season. The Bruins have a 3-0 record, outscoring their opponents 12-2.
The team started a week ago in Bowmanville, where they defeated last year's league-leading Clarington Eagles 2-1 in overtime. Evan Gilbert opened the scoring early in the second period, assisted by Colin Glecoff. The Eagles tied it up later in the period. After a scoreless third period, Gilbert scored an unassisted goal on a power play just three minutes into overtime.
Robbie DiMaria manned the net for Uxbridge.
The following night, for their first home game, the Bruins gave a hearty welcome to the Little Britain Merchants, downing the visitors 5-1. Backed up by a sterling performance from goalie Kevin Halloran, the Bruins scored two goals in the first two minutes courtesy of Trent Nobes, assisted by Josh Hall and Trent Warren, and Jack Kemp, unassisted. That led to the Merchants' goalie being replaced. Later in the period, Ryan Shier combined with Liam Peterson to make it 3-0.
Little Britain notched a power-play goal in the first 30 seconds of the second period, but Nolan Winter restored the three-goal lead at the midway mark by tipping in a shot from the blue line by Jordan Bonner.
In the third period, Winter picked up the puck in his own end and skated the length of the ice to score again. Devin Hollands was credited with an assist.
The Uxbridge Cosmos selected Halloran as player of the game for the Bruins, and for the Merchants gave the nod to Rheydan McCoy.
On Sunday, the Bruins went down Reach Street to meet their arch-rivals, the Port Perry LumberJacks, who defeated Uxbridge in all seven meetings last season. Going into the game, the LumberJacks had a 3-0 record.
That did not deter the Bruins, who pressed their opponents relentlessly. Kemp opened the scoring at the midway mark of the first period, assisted by captain Tanner Ryan and Tucker Roberts. That was followed quickly by Roberts' marker, assisted by Ryan.
In the second, Kemp scored again, assisted by Ryan, as the teams played four-on-four. Less than two minutes later, Peterson potted his second goal after taking a long, long pass from Bonner. Ryan Shier also received an assist. Towards the end of the period, the LumberJacks replaced their goalie.
The third period saw Uxbridge score their last goal with Bonner assisted by Tyson Lotton and Gilbert.
DiMaria was in the net again and turned aside 31 shots by the LumberJacks.
The Bruins are scheduled to meet the undefeated Georgina Ice on Friday, but the game will be held in Georgina, not the Uxbridge arena.
Bear pause: A number of new faces were in the Uxbridge lineup and their performances bode well for future games. However, a few fans at Friday's game expressed annoyance at the Bruins adoption of high sweater numbers, such as 44, 55 and 77. On the bright side, however, with the recent refurbishments of Pad 2, the netting has been removed and, for the first time in recent years Chuck-a-Puck is back.