Battle of North Durham goes to Uxbridge Bruins in five-game thriller

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

The Uxbridge Bruins have advanced to the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) Orr Division finals, eliminating their arch-rivals, the Port Perry MoJacks, in a hard-fought five-game Battle of North Durham series.

After storming to a 2-0 series lead last weekend, Uxbridge faced a resilient LumberJacks squad in Game 3 on Tuesday, March 10th, in Uxbridge. Port Perry struck first in the third period with a power-play goal from Parker Lemay, assisted by Dylan Leslie and Johannes Kalm, tying the game 1-1. The game went into overtime, where Leslie scored the winner at 2:21 of the overtime period. Goaltender Eamon Callaghan made 36 saves to keep the MoJacks alive and show why this series was far from over.

Game 4, back at Scugog Arena on Wednesday, saw both teams trade goals in a fast-paced affair. Liam Rampersad opened the scoring for Port Perry, only to be quickly answered by Uxbridge’s Danny Thomakos and Jordan Fitger. Despite a second-period power-play goal from Zachary Caron for the MoJacks, the Bruins surged with four unanswered goals in the second and third periods. Devin Hollands, Thomakos, Evan Gilbert, and Fitger all found the net as Uxbridge claimed a decisive 6-2 victory. Robby DiMaria made 25 saves to secure the win.

The series-clinching Game 5 returned to the Bear Den on Friday night. Port Perry drew first blood in the second period through Andrew Naccarato-Soule, but Uxbridge responded with three third-period goals from Fitger, Darin Bain, and Ryan Shier to secure a 3-1 victory and the series. DiMaria again turned aside 25 shots in the Bruins’ net.

After the final buzzer, Bruins head coach Dan West praised his team’s resilience throughout the series. “Credit to our guys for their resiliency,” West said. “This wasn’t an easy series. Port Perry came into the playoffs hot, and we knew they would fight hard, and they gave everything they had.”

West highlighted a turning point in Game 4. “Turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead late in the first period really shifted the momentum. The energy in the building changed in that moment, and our guys rode that wave for the rest of the game. That’s what we’ve been able to do all season, and it was great to see the team deliver when needed in this series. Hockey is a game of momentum, and once we grabbed it, we didn’t let go.”

He also reflected on the role of leadership and experience. “Our veteran players really stepped up, and the younger guys rose to the occasion. When you have a mix of veteran players and those hungry to prove themselves, it creates a special dynamic. Everyone has a role, and everyone delivered when it mattered.”

Looking ahead, West is keeping his focus on the next challenge: the Orr Division final. “We’ve earned everything we’ve gotten this year, but our work isn’t done. When it gets to this point in the season, everyone is a tough opponent, and we have to stay sharp. Our goal is simple: play our game, stay disciplined, and continue to build on the momentum we’ve created here.”

Uxbridge now awaits the winner of the other Orr Division semifinal series. Clarington and Georgina are tied 3-3, with the decisive Game 7 scheduled for Thursday, March 19th, in Keswick.