Uxbridge Bruins advance to Schmalz Cup after dominant series finish

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

The Uxbridge Bruins are back on top of the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s Orr Division, capturing the Cougar Cup, with a decisive 3-0 victory over the Clarington Eagles, in Game 6 on Sunday, March 29th, in Bowmanville.

The championship marks the eighth in franchise history for Uxbridge and their first since 2019, capping off an impressive playoff run which saw the Bruins win four of the final five games in the series.

After splitting the opening weekend, the Bruins seized control with a dominant stretch, beginning in Game 3, on home ice. Uxbridge skated to a 6-2 win, Tuesday night, powered by a two-goal performance from Trent Nobes and a three-point effort from Danny Thomakos. Additional goals from Jack Kemp, Darin Bain, and Tyson Lotton helped build a comfortable lead, while goaltender Danny DiMaria turned aside 18 of 20 shots.

The Bruins carried that momentum into Game 4, in Bowmanville, earning a 4-1 victory, to move within one win of the title. Lotton opened the scoring on the power play, while Thomakos and Ryan Shier added second-period goals. Kemp sealed the win, with an empty-netter, and DiMaria was once again sharp, stopping 18 of 19 shots.

Back on home ice, at the Bear Den, on Friday night, nearly 1,000 fans packed the Bear Den, in anticipation of a championship celebration. Uxbridge struck first, through a goal by Kyle Butt, but the Eagles responded with three unanswered goals, to claim a 3-2 win, and force a sixth game. Jack Kemp scored late in the third, to pull the Bruins within one, but Clarington held on to extend the series.

Undeterred, the Bruins delivered their strongest defensive performance of the postseason, in Game 6. After a scoreless first period, Kyle Butt broke the deadlock, midway through the second, followed by a goal from Tucker Roberts, to give Uxbridge control. Captain Tanner Ryan added an empty-net goal, in the final minute, to seal the victory, while DiMaria was perfect between the pipes, making 24 saves for the shutout.

Head coach Dan West praised his team’s resilience, following the Game 5 setback.

“We could have let that one slip into our heads, but this group has shown, all year, they respond the right way,” said Coach West. “They came into Sunday focused, composed, and committed to playing our game. That’s a championship effort.”

Team captain, Tanner Ryan said, the opportunity to clinch, on the road, made the moment even more meaningful.

“It says a lot about our group,” Ryan said. “We had a chance at home, and it didn’t go our way, but nobody panicked. We trusted each other, stuck to the plan, and found a way to finish it. To win it like that, as a team, is something we’ll never forget.”

With the Orr Division title secured, the Bruins now advance to the provincial stage, where they will face the, Tod Division champion, Frankford Huskies in the quarterfinals of the Clarence Schmalz Cup. The series with the Huskies is likely to begin over the upcoming Easter weekend.

Coach West believes his team is ready for the next challenge.

“We know the competition only gets tougher from here, but this group has earned the opportunity,” he said. “We’ll enjoy this, then get back to work.”

For a Bruins team which has steadily built toward this moment, the Cougar Cup represents both a return to form and a chance to chase an even bigger prize.