Bruins melt Ice for first win of 2023-24 season

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

UXBRIDGE: In a rare Friday night road game, the Uxbridge Bruins doubled up the Georgina Ice by a score of 6-3, in Keswick on Friday, September 22nd, scoring their first victory of the 2023-24 Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) season.

Facing his former team, goaltender Andrew Claughton made several spectacular saves, turning aside 30 shots from Georgina to pick up the win for Uxbridge.

The Bruins were looking to put a damper on Georgina’s ongoing 30th anniversary celebrations, and the early portion of the game saw great back-and-forth action, with great scoring chances from both teams. With Uxbridge on the powerplay and just under four minutes to play in the first period, Alex Hyde gave the Bruins the lead. Then, just 21 seconds later, the Ice replied, to tie the game. However, keeping with the frantic pace of the opening period, Lucas Marshal scored just 24 seconds later, to restore Uxbridge’s advantage, as the first period came to a close.

The teams would trade goals early in the second period, with Mark Sifri briefly giving Uxbridge a 3-1 lead before the Ice responded with a pair, to knot the game 3-3. The Bruins got a big momentum boost, with just 42 seconds left in the middle frame, as Quinn Meek scored a powerplay goal, to boost the Bruins to a 4-3 lead heading into the dressing room, after 40 minutes of action.

The third period saw more tremendous action, at both ends of the ice, but Claughton would make several sensational saves to keep the home side off the scoreboard. Then, late goals from Tanner Ryan and Josh Czalij sealed the 6-3 victory for the Bruins.

Loose Pucks:

The Bruins made a major splash in the trade market last week, sending a Player Development Fee to the London Nationals Junior ‘B’ team, in exchange for 2004-born forward Tanner Ryan, a highly-sought after player, who has previously spent time in the OHL with the Niagara Ice Dogs. Ryan made an immediate impact, with a goal and two assists against Georgina.

It is shaping up to be a busy week for the Bruins, with a Tuesday night trip to Lakefield (after The Standard’s press deadline), to tangle with the Chiefs. On Friday night, the Bruins are back at the Bear Den, for a 7:45 p.m., in a Battle of North Durham match-up, against the Port Perry Lumberjacks.