Bruins wins put team back on top

Roger Varley

With a 6-1 win over the Georgina Ice last Friday and a nail-biting victory over the Port Perry LumberJacks on Sunday, the Uxbridge Bruins strengthened their hold on first place in the PJHL's Orr Division.

In what was a crucial game on Friday, the Bruins put on a display of teamwork, judicious body checks and great positional play to swamp the visiting Ice. If Georgina had won, the two teams would have been tied for first place.

Luke Kemp opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period, a blistering shot from the boards. Assists went to Ryan Shier and Darin Bain.

The Bruins made several mistakes at the opening of the second period, leading to Georgina's only goal just two minutes into the stanza. But the Bruins regrouped and Danny Thomakos scored what proved to be the winning goal less than two minutes later, with Evan Gilbert and Tyson Lotton assisting. Uxbridge quickly scored another but the goal was disallowed. Jack Kemp and newcomer Kyle Butt both scored in the dying minutes of the period, with Jordan Bonner assisting on Kemp's marker and Tanner Ryan and Trent Nobes assisting on Butt's.

Two minutes into the third period, Lotton scored on the power-play when he tipped in a pass from the point. Shier and Bain were credited with assists. That led to the Ice changing goalies. Colin Glecoff finished the scoring with a late power-play goal, assisted by Shier and Jack Kemp.

The Cosmos named Luke Kemp as player of the game for the Bruins and gave the nod to Jaiden Hay for the Ice.

Down Reach Street at the Scugog arena, the Bruins took a three goal lead over the LumberJacks before Port Perry scored. Thomakos scored the only goal of the first period less than three minutes after the opening whistle, assisted by Devin Hollands and Gilbert.

In the second period, Luke Kemp combined with Bain near the midway mark and a couple of minutes later Bain and Kemp reversed roles, with Shier also getting an assist. With two minutes remaining, the LumberJacks finally found the net on a power play.

Midway through the third, Nobes notched a short-handed goal, with Josh Hall and Colin Tingay assisting. That;s when the nail-biting started, as the LumberJacks roared back with two goals, including a power-play marker with 76 seconds remaining. The Bruins were able to hold off Port Perry as the clock wound down.

The Bruins are now four points ahead of Georgina in the standings with a record of 20-4-0, The Clarington Eagles are third with 33 points and Port Perry is fourth with 27.

The Bruins hit the ice again tomorrow (Friday) night when they host the Little Britain Merchants at 7:45 p.m. before heading to Schomberg on Saturday for a tilt against the Cougars.