Bruins dominate as LumberJacks rally in PJHL Quarterfinal openers

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

Opening weekend of the Provincial Junior Hockey League playoffs delivered exactly what local fans have come to expect, dominant performances at the top and high drama in one of the league’s fiercest rivalries.

The first-place Uxbridge Bruins wasted no time showing why they were among the elite teams in the entire PJHL this season. Uxbridge set a new club record with 35 wins and finished with 71 points, second overall in the league, trailing only the Essex 73’s (75 points).

Game 1 of their Orr Division quarterfinal against the seventh-place Caledon Golden Eagles on Friday night in Uxbridge was nothing short of historic, as the Bruins rolled to a staggering 16-0 victory.

Danny Thomakos scored twice in the opening period, while Jordan Fitger and Ryan Shier added early goals to set the tone. Shier completed a natural hat trick in the second period, and the floodgates never closed. By night’s end, 11 different Bruins players had found the scoresheet.

Fitger finished with a hat trick and added three assists for a six-point performance. Evan Gilbert chipped in four assists, while Tyson Lotton and Jack Kemp each scored twice. The Bruins led 4-0 after one, 10-0 after two, and continued to press in the third.

Game 2 on Sunday afternoon in Caledon was far tighter, but the result was the same, an Uxbridge victory.

After Caledon opened the scoring on an early power play, Cameron Meek responded just 29 seconds later to spark the Bruins. Tyson Lotton’s power-play marker gave Uxbridge the lead for good, and Tucker Roberts and Ryan Shier extended the advantage before the first intermission.

The Bruins skated away with a 6-2 win to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Roberts scored twice in the contest, while Lotton, Shier, and Luke Kemp also found the back of the net.

Game 3 was scheduled for Tuesday night in Uxbridge, after The Standard’s press deadline. Game 4 is set for Friday, February 27th at 7:45 p.m. in Caledon.

With Clarington Eagles receiving a bye to the semifinals and Georgina Ice jumping out to a 2-0 lead in their quarterfinal, the Bruins could very well meet the winner of the Port Perry–Little Britain series in the next round.

LumberJacks Strike First in Rivalry Series

Few matchups in the PJHL match the intensity between the Port Perry LumberJacks and the Little Britain Merchants, and the opening weekend added another chapter.

Game 1 Saturday night in Little Britain saw the LumberJacks deliver a textbook road performance, skating to a 3-0 shutout.

Jacob Sharpe opened the scoring late in the first period, Zachary Caron added a second-period marker, and Andrew Naccarato-Soule sealed it with an empty-net goal in the final minute of regulation.

If Game 1 was controlled and methodical, Game 2 on Sunday afternoon at Scugog Arena was anything but.

Port Perry built an early lead on a power-play goal from Johannes Kalm, but the Merchants stormed back with four straight goals across the second and early third periods to seize momentum. Keegan Paylor scored twice for Little Britain, while Filip Djordjevic and Caden Beaton Earle also struck.

Facing a late deficit, the LumberJacks refused to fold.

Kalm completed his hat trick midway through the third to spark the comeback. Austin Fata tied the game shorthanded with just over three minutes remaining. Then, with the goalie pulled and six attackers on the ice, Kyle Den Ouden buried the tying goal at 18:59 to force overtime.

Just over seven minutes into the extra frame, Parker Lemay ended the thriller, giving Port Perry a dramatic 6-5 victory and a 2-0 series lead.

The series resumes Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. in Port Perry, shifts back to Little Britain Saturday, and if necessary, Game 5 will be played Sunday, March 1 at 2:25 p.m. at Scugog Arena.

Two series, two very different storylines, but one common theme: playoff hockey in the Orr Division is already delivering unforgettable moments.