The McLean & Dickey Orillia Terriers are off to a perfect start in their Provincial Junior Hockey League season.
The local Jr. C squad crushed host Midland 9-2 Friday night and then squeaked out a nail-biting 4-3 win over visiting Penetang in a Saturday night thriller at Rotary Place.
With the weekend wins, the Terriers have improved to 4-0 on the young season and sit in first place in the North Carruthers Division. In the season’s opening weekend, the Terriers served notice, beating perennial powerhouses Alliston and Stayner in back-to-back hard-fought victories.
Friday night’s contest against Midland was never in doubt.
Austin Holenski broke a 1-1 draw 6:38 into the first frame, sparking his squad to eight unanswered goals en route to the commanding win.
Holenski led the offence with two goals, while Broderick Black, Kaden Goggins, Sam Pink, Isaiah Philip, Owen Vandusen, Devin Edmonds and Mason Beck tallied single markers.
Netminder Wade Monague was strong between the pipes, stopping 28 of 30 shots to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Orillia outshot the Flyers 53-30 in the lopsided contest played before just over 100 fans at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre.
Saturday night’s contest did not start well for the home side as Penetang scored just 31 seconds into the game.
However, Edmonds knotted the score three minutes later and Black gave the home side a 2-1 lead heading into the middle stanza.
Penetang struck quickly and early again in the second, scoring two goals within a minute to earn a 3-2 lead before the period was two minutes old.
Terriers forward Josh Brown knotted the score and then scored his second of the period - and fourth of the season - at the eight-minute mark to give his team a 4-3 lead they would never relinquish.
Terriers goalie Reed Spinola made some key saves to preserve the victory and improve to 2-0. Spinola stopped 21 of 24 shots as Orillia outshot the visitors 30-24.
Orillia and Penetang will clash again Friday night in Penetang before the Terriers return to their home ice at Rotary Place for an 8 p.m. contest Saturday night against Huntsville.
