Fitger shines as Bruins extend win streak
Roger Varley
An amazing performance by Jordan Fitger on the weekend topped the Uxbridge Bruins' weekend winning spree in which they defeated the Little Britain Merchants 3-1 and edged the Schomberg Cougars 5-4.
The victories extended the Bruins' winning streak to five games and put them four points ahead of the Georgina Ice atop the PJHL's Orr Division. However, the weekend games belonged to forward Fitger, who scored a total of six goals, including an amazing four against Schomberg.
Friday's game against the Merchants at the arena started slowly, with neither team showing much spark in the scoreless first period. It wasn't until midway through the second period that Fitger scored the first goal while the Bruins skated with an extra attacker on a delayed penalty against the Merchants. Jack Kemp had the assist. Little Britain responded a minute later to tie the game.
The Bruins had an opportunity to go ahead 30 seconds later when they were awarded a penalty shot because a Little Britain defenceman put his glove on the puck in the crease. Unfortunately, Danny Thomakos failed to score. As the period wound down, the Bruins found themselves two men down for a minute-and-a-half and immediately took another penalty after that penalty-kill had ended.
A better organized Bruins squad took control of the third period. Darin Bain scored what proved to be the winning goal six minutes in, assisted by Benson Moore and Ryan Shier and, with 15 seconds left, Moore passed the puck to Fitger who knocked in an empty-netter.
The Cosmos chose Luke Kemp as Uxbridge's player of the game and named Curtis Misener for the Merchants.
The following night in Schomberg, the struggling Cougars indicated they were not going to be easy pickings by scoring just 22 seconds into the game and held the Bruins scoreless for the rest of the period.
Early in the second, Trent Nobes tied the score, assisted by Tanner Ryan and Evan Gilbert, only to see Schomberg go ahead again a couple of minutes later. That's when Fitger turned into a scoring machine. He scored back-to-back goals near the midway mark of the period, opened the third period with an unassisted goal and, 15 seconds after the Cougars had notched their third goal, Fitger scored what proved to be the winning goal.
The Cougars scored once more for a final score of Uxbridge 5, Schomberg 4.
Fans wanting to see the Bruins in action this side of the New Year will have to travel to Little Britain or Georgina. There’s no game this Friday evening, as it’s Boxing Day. The Bruins visit the Merchants on Saturday, Dec. 27, however, and face the Georgina Ice in Keswick on Tuesday, Dec. 30.