Fast Start Fizzles for Huskies as Uxbridge Bruins Rally to Win Game 1 in Frankford

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

The Uxbridge Bruins opened their Provincial Junior Hockey League quarterfinal series in strong fashion, over the weekend, skating to a 5-2 Game 1 victory, over the Frankford Huskies.

From a field of more than 60 teams, the Provincial Junior Hockey League has been narrowed to the final eight, with Uxbridge travelling east, along Highway 401, over the Easter weekend, to face the Tod Division champion Huskies, in a best-of-seven East Conference championship showdown.

With Frankford earning home-ice advantage, following a coin toss earlier in the week, the series opened on Saturday, April 4th, in the cozy confines of Frankford’s Dr. McMullen Recreation Centre.

The Huskies struck quickly, as Deke Osterhout found the back of the net, just 12 seconds into the game. Despite the early setback, Bruins head coach Dan West said, his team remained composed.

“We knew they were going to come out hard, in their building, and that first shift showed it,” said West. “But I really liked how our group responded. We stayed composed, stuck to our structure, and took control as the game went on.”

Uxbridge answered, midway through the opening frame, as Jack Kemp, from Kyle Butt and Tanner Ryan, evened the score, with just under five minutes played. Frankford restored its lead, late in the period, on a power-play goal from Rheydan McCoy, but the Bruins responded once again, before the intermission, with Tucker Roberts scoring, with just over a minute remaining in the opening period, to make it 2-2.

After a scoreless second period, the Bruins took over in the third.

Jordan Fitger delivered the decisive blow, scoring twice in just over a minute, early in the frame. His goals, at 6:00 and 7:07, gave Uxbridge its first lead and shifted the momentum firmly in their favour.

Forward, Ryan Shier said, the team’s confidence never wavered, even after falling behind twice.

“We didn’t panic after falling behind early,” said Shier. “We trusted our game, and once we got rolling in the third, you could feel the energy shift in our favour. It was a great team effort.”

Kyle Butt sealed the win, with an empty-net goal, in the final seconds, while goaltender Robby DiMaria was outstanding for Uxbridge, turning aside 38 of 40 shots.

West pointed to his team’s ability to adjust and execute when it mattered most. “That third period is the kind of hockey we want to play,” he said. “We were disciplined, we capitalized on our chances, and we got a big performance in net. It’s a good start, but there’s a lot of work ahead.”

Frankford evened the series at one game apiece following their 1-0 win in Game 2 on Tuesday night, in Uxbridge.

The series shifts back to Frankford for Game 3, on Thursday, with Game 4 set for Friday night, at the Bear Den, with puck drop at 7:45 p.m.

If necessary, Game 5 will be played Sunday, April 12th, in Frankford. Game 6 is slated for Tuesday, April 14th, in Uxbridge, at 7:45 p.m., with Game 7 scheduled for Thursday, April 16th, in Frankford.

In other quarterfinal action, over the weekend, the Fergus Whalers took Game 1 of the North Conference championship, 9-3, over the Stayner Siskins. In the South Conference opener, on Saturday, the Tavistock Braves scored a 5-0 shutout, over the Dundas Blues. The Lakeshore Canadiens battled to a 3-1 Game 1 win, over the Mount Brydges Bulldogs, in the West Conference championship.