Bruins edge LumberJacks in Battle of North Durham while Merchants claim an OT victory

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

It was an eventful weekend for North Durham’s PJHL teams, highlighted by a thrilling Battle of North Durham between the Uxbridge Bruins and Port Perry LumberJacks. On Sunday at Scugog Arena, the Bruins came away with a 6-2 victory over their archrivals.

Port Perry struck first just 26 seconds in when Kyle Den Ouden scored, assisted by Liam Rampersad. Uxbridge quickly responded, with Jack Kemp tying the game in the first period. Tanner Ryan gave the Bruins the lead in the second with a short-handed goal, and Darin Bain added another before the period ended. Bain scored again in the third on the power play, followed by a late goal from Den Ouden for Port Perry. Luke Kemp and Evan Gilbert completed the scoring for Uxbridge, while Kevin Halloran made 28 saves to secure the win.

Friday night saw both teams struggle on the road. The Bruins dropped a 5-2 decision to the Clarington Eagles at the Bear Den. Nolan Winter opened the scoring for Clarington, and Gianluca Meli added a power-play goal in the second. Jordan Fitger and Luke Kemp replied for Uxbridge, but Clarington added two more in the third, including an empty-net goal from Brayden Hicks.

Meanwhile, the LumberJacks were handed a 9-2 loss by the Georgina Ice in Keswick. Georgina dominated early with three power-play goals in the first period. Charlie Paton and Parker Lemay scored for Port Perry in the second, but Georgina added five more goals to seal the win.

The Little Britain Merchants picked up a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the Caledon Golden Hawks on Saturday. Quinn Boyle and Nathan Wanamaker scored in the third period before Arland Devendra and Arunas Scott tied the game for Caledon. Beckham Reznik scored the overtime winner just 22 seconds in.

Looking ahead, the Bruins are back on home ice against Georgina on Friday at 7:45 p.m. The Merchants host the Ice on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday afternoon, the LumberJacks and Bruins will renew hostilities at Scugog Arena at 2:25 p.m.