Little Britain Merchants score crucial win vs Lakefield

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

With their game in Uxbridge, on Friday, January 12th, postponed due to inclement weather, the Little Britain Merchants made the most of their weekend. On Saturday night, they scored a pivotal 5-2 win on home ice over the Lakefield Chiefs, to draw within striking distance of fifth place in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) Orr Division standings.

With 20 points on the season, the Merchants now find themselves just three points behind the Chiefs for fifth place in the division, although they have played two more games than Lakefield.

Looking to bounce back from a 3-2 overtime loss in Apsley, against the North Kawartha Knights last weekend, the Merchants fell into an early hole on Saturday night, with Lakefield opening the scoring just 46 seconds into the action. However, Matt Gordon scored a powerplay goal with just 13 seconds remaining in the first period to even the score at 1-1.

Nine minutes into the second period, the Chiefs scored to retake the lead, but it was all Little Britain from there. The second half of the game saw the Shopkeepers dominate in the offensive and defensive zones. Goaltender Joseph Clark made several sensational saves to keep the Lakefield offence in check. Travis Aitchison and Nate Stirling scored second-period goals to give the home side a 3-2 advantage heading into the third period.

In the final frame, Gordon netted his second of the night, and a late tally from Ryan Brown rounded out the scoring in a remarkable comeback victory for Little Britain. Clark was busy between the pipes all evening, turning aside 45 shots.

Loose Pucks:

- Ahead of the PJHL’s trade deadline last week, Little Britain made a pair of moves. First, the team added defenceman Will Beattie from the Georgina Ice. Then they added forward Matt Godden from the Midland Flyers. Both deals saw the Merchants transfer Player Development Fees to bolster their lineup down the stretch this season and into the future. Both players made their Merchants debut on Saturday night, with Beattie earning an assist.

- The Merchants trek to Keswick on Friday, January 19th, for a 7:30 p.m. match-up against the Ice.

- On Saturday night, the Shopkeepers renew hostilities with one of their fiercest rivals, with the Uxbridge Bruins visiting Little Britain and the action getting underway at 7:30 p.m.