Bruins and Eagles Trade Wins to Open PJHL Orr Division Final

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

The Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) Orr Division championship series is off to a fast and physical start, with the Uxbridge Bruins and Clarington Eagles splitting the opening two games of the Cougar Cup final over the weekend.

Uxbridge drew first blood on Friday, March 20th, at the Bear Den, skating to a commanding 6-1 victory on home ice. The Bruins wasted no time setting the tone, striking twice in a 12-second span early in the first period. Danny Thomakos opened the scoring at 5:10, finishing a play set up by Trent Nobes, before Jack Kemp doubled the lead moments later off a feed from Tanner Ryan.

The Bruins kept their foot on the gas in the second period, with Evan Gilbert and Nobes adding goals less than a minute apart late in the frame to blow the game open. Bensen Moore extended the lead in the third before Clarington’s Owen White broke the shutout. Ryan Shier capped the scoring with a late power-play marker.

Between the pipes, Robby DiMaria was steady, turning aside 19 of 20 shots to secure the win.

Bruins head coach Dan West praised his team’s start.

“We came out with a lot of jump and did a good job establishing our forecheck early,” said West. “When we’re playing fast and getting pucks in deep like that, we’re a tough team to handle.”

The series shifted to Bowmanville on Sunday night, where the Eagles responded with a 4-3 victory to even the best-of-seven matchup at one game apiece.

Clarington jumped out to a quick lead, with Aidan Miller and Nolan Winter scoring 26 seconds apart midway through the opening period. The Bruins clawed back in the second, as Kyle Butt and Tyson Lotton found the back of the net to tie the game heading into the third.

The Eagles regained control early in the final frame, with Blake Peters-Davey restoring the lead before Jack Geniole added what proved to be the game-winner. Darin Bain pulled Uxbridge within one on a late power play, but the Bruins couldn’t find the equalizer.

West said Game 2 showed just how tight the series is expected to be. “We knew they were going to push back at home, and they did,” he said. “It’s a good lesson for our group, you can’t take a shift off in this series. Every mistake gets magnified.”

With the split, the series now becomes a best-of-five.

Game 3 was scheduled for Tuesday night in Uxbridge following The Standard’s press deadline. Game 4 heads back to Bowmanville on Thursday, while Game 5 returns to the Bear Den on Friday, March 27th. Game 6 is set for Sunday in Bowmanville, and if necessary, a winner-take-all Game 7 will be played Tuesday, March 31st, in Uxbridge.

West told The Standard he expects the intensity to ramp up as the series continues.

“This is what playoff hockey is all about,” he said. “Both teams are competing hard, and it’s going to come down to details, discipline, and who wants it more.”