DAN CEARNS The Standard
SCUGOG: The Port Perry Lumberjacks completed their preseason action this past week with mixed results.
The team started out the week with a game in Orillia against the Terriers on Tuesday, September 5th.
After the first 20 minutes of play, the Terriers had already struck for three goals, putting Port Perry behind 3-0.
Just 11 seconds into the second period, the Terriers put the puck in the net again, extending the deficit to 4-0. 35 seconds later, the Terriers scored again, making it a 5-0 game. But, late in the period, Quinn Arnott scored, cutting the deficit to four goals.
The Terriers would score twice more in the third period though, and Port Perry lost 7-1.
The Lumberjacks’ next challenge was the annual Alliston Hornets preseason tournament. Port Perry opened that tournament against a familiar opponent on Friday, September 8th, the Georgina Ice.
The Ice would score the only goal of the first period, and Port Perry trailed 1-0.
Georgina widened the gap in the second period with three consecutive goals, making it a 4-0 game. But before the period ended, Mateo Guerrieri gave Port Perry some hope with a goal, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
Five minutes into the third period, the Ice would restore their four-goal lead with a goal. A little over four minutes later, Guerrieri scored his second goal of the game. But that was as close as Port Perry would get, losing the game by a score of 5-2.
The Lumberjacks had a better outing in the second game of the tournament against the Penetang Kings on Saturday, September 9th.
Over 12 minutes into the first period, Kyle Bailey scored to give Port Perry a 1-0 lead. That would be the only goal of the period.
There were no goals scored in the second period. With a little over seven minutes remaining on the third period clock, Jacob Sharpe extended Port Perry’s lead to 2-0 with a goal. The Lumberjacks added a goal later in the period and won the game 3-0.
The Lumberjacks finished the tournament with a matchup against the host team, the Alliston Hornets that same day.
The Hornets lit the lamp three times in the first period, and Port Perry trailed 3-0 after the first 20 minutes of play.
Parker Lemay would score Port Perry’s only goal, 12 minutes into the third period. The Lumberjacks lost the game by a final tally of 3-1.
The Lumberjacks’ regular season begins on Saturday, September 16th when they play in Georgina against the Ice as part of Hockey Day in Georgina, which will see a pair of games beforehand featuring Ice alumni as that team is celebrating their 30th anniversary this season. There is a full day of activities planned in Keswick featuring local minor hockey teams from that area. The Lumberjacks vs Ice game will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Lumberjacks will play their first home game of the season at Scugog Arena the next day, on Sunday, September 17th. They will face the Little Britain Merchants, with puck drop scheduled for 2:25 p.m. The first 500 fans will receive a free LumberJacks t-shirt produced by TSO and there will be free admission for any fan wearing any of the local hockey organizations merchandise or fan gear. These can include the Lumberjacks, Central Ontario Wolves, North Durham Warriors, Blackstock minor hockey, Port Perry High School hockey, Scugog Hockey League, Scugog Women’s Hockey League and the North Durham Blades.