DAN CEARNS The Standard
SCUGOG: The Port Perry Lumberjacks recently opened their preseason action with two exciting games against the Georgina Ice and Orillia Terriers.
Both games were held on home ice, at Scugog Arena. The first game was on Friday, August 25th against the Ice.
A little over five minutes into the game, the Ice struck first, putting Port Perry behind 1-0. But over three minutes later, Mark Stoop skated through Georgina’s defence and wristed a shot past the Ice’s goaltender to tie the game 1-1. Nearly 11 minutes into the period though, the Ice would restore their lead with a goal, and Port Perry trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes of play.
Over eight minutes into the second period, the Ice would strike again to widen the gap to 3-1. Seven minutes later, Georgina scored again, making it a 4-1 game. Port Perry would get some hope 30 seconds later, when Jacob Sharpe banged in a Ronnie Watson rebound to cut the deficit to 4-2.
The third period was heated, with both teams engaging in a couple fights, scrums and some roughing. The Ice would secure their victory late in the period with one last goal, defeating Port Perry 5-2.
Lumberjacks hopefuls had another opportunity to impress the team’s coaching staff when the team took on the Terriers on Wednesday, August 30th.
A little over six minutes into the first period, the Terriers took the first lead with a goal. But 98 seconds later, Cole Papageorgiou backhanded a puck into the net, tying the game 1-1. The Terriers would strike late in the period, and Port Perry trailed 2-1.
A little over a minute and a half into the second period, Parker Lemay scored, making it a 2-2 game. The Lumberjacks would get their first lead of the game six minutes later, when Kyle Bailey scored his first goal of the preseason. But two Terriers goals later in the period put the Lumberjacks back behind 4-3.
Nine and a half minutes into the third period, the Terriers struck again to widen the gap to 5-3. Over a minute later, the Terriers put the puck in the net again, making it a 6-3 deficit. Papageorgiou would cut the deficit seven minutes later to 6-4 after receiving a pass from Watson behind the net and scoring. But that was as close as Port Perry would get, as the Terriers scored an empty net goal late in the period, and Port Perry lost 7-4.
One Timers:
- The Lumberjacks’ regular season begins on Saturday, September 16th when they play in Georgina against the Ice. That 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 in that game, with puck drop being held at 2:25 p.m.