Kiazyk Gets Debut in Net in Brooklin Merchants Road Win

By Mark Stehlin

The Brooklin Merchants made the trek to Owen Sound on Sunday afternoon and put their 5-0 record on the line against the NorthStars. It was a debut in net for Thomas Kiazyk who was the second pick for the Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) in January’s Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) entry draft. He was selected seventh overall in the first round. He played 16 games for the Toronto Beaches Junior A squad and put up a 7.25 goals against average. Kiazyk made an immediate impact with his new teammates by surrendering only three goals in an impressive 9-3 win.  The Merchants are now at the halfway mark of this season’s 12-game schedule and own a 6-0 record to lead the league.

It would be the NorthStars who would strike first in the game as they pulled out to a 2-0 lead at the halfway mark of the opening frame. Owen Wills got one back to pull the Merchants to within one at the buzzer.

The Merchants shook off their bus legs early in the second as BLC’s first pick in the 2026 MSL draft, Elijah Edwards scored to tie the affair. The Merchants reeled off two more for the lead and didn’t stop there, holding a 5-3 lead after forty minutes. They outscored their opponents 4-1 in that frame as Robbie Baxter scored what would be the eventual winner with five minutes left in that frame.

The third period was all Merchants who reeled off four unanswered en route to the 9-3 win and they made the drive home with their unbeaten streak intact.

“Mark (Debrone) and I did what we expected the team would do today, and that was to respond after last week’s disappointing effort in the third period,” said head coach Ryan Degerdon on the phone from the highway.

“As a team, we are happy but not satisfied. It was a good step after last week and we can build on this looking forward,” added Degerdon.

The Merchants will host the NorthStars in the back half of the home and home on Sunday June 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Iroquois Park Sports Centre.