DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
The Uxbridge Bruins wrapped up the 2023 portion of their schedule with a 5-1 win over the Little Britain Merchants before a raucous Bear Den crowd on Friday, December 29th.
Mark Sifri gave the home side an early advantage when he opened the scoring just over three minutes into the action. The Merchants would bounce back, and the early portion of the game featured sensational saves from both goaltenders as the two longtime rivals squared off in a crucial Orr Division match-up. A powerplay goal from Quinn Meek, assisted by Anthony Lamanna and Jack Davis just past the midway point of the opening period, gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead.
Just over five minutes into the second period, Meek netted his second of the evening while shorthanded when he blasted a shot past Merchant's netminder Joseph Clark. The Merchants would break up Andrew Claughton's shutout bid late in the middle frame as Uxbridge clung to a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play.
The third period saw the Merchants continue to try and claw their way back, but they could not solve Claughton or the Uxbridge defence. Goals late in the game by Gavin Graham and Tanner Ryan rounded out the scoring, as the final tally read 5-1 in favour of Uxbridge.
The win over the Shopkeepers puts the Bruins solidly in third place in the Orr Division standings with 35 points, three behind the second-place Georgina Ice. However, the Ice have played two fewer games than Uxbridge.
Loose Pucks:
- Uxbridge will hit the road for three games this weekend. On Friday night, it's a pivotal match-up for second place in the standings in Keswick between the Bruins and the Ice, with the action getting underway at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday afternoon at 2:25 p.m., the Bruins will face off in a Battle of North Durham at Scugog Arena against the Port Perry Lumberjacks. On Tuesday, January 9th, the Bruins hit the road for Lakefield and a 7:25 p.m. tilt against the Chiefs.
- The Bruins recently recognized Anthony Lamanna and Quinn Meek for surpassing the 100-point mark with the team.