Merchants 2026 Campaign Draws to a Close with Game Five Loss

By Mark Stehlin

The Brooklin Merchants and Six Nations Rivermen have now met in three consecutive Ontario Series Lacrosse finals. Last year, the Merchants won the right to hoist the Clare Levack Trophy as Ontario Champs and went on to be named Presidents Cup finalists in the tournament that they hosted. This year, after a tight regular season where both teams had identical records, they played a thrilling best of five final that the Rivermen took three games to two after Monday’s 7-4 win.

“It isn’t fun to lose, and we should be talking about a trip to Alberta, but I am happy with the progress and I’m thrilled to see where we can take this team. The effort was there all season and all series. I think the guys left it all out there and we came up short this year, that is the reality. We are a young team with speed and skill and came up against a very good veteran and physical Rivermen team,” said head coach Ryan Degerdon.

Monday’s game followed on the heels of an overtime thriller on Sunday night at Iroquois Park Sports Centre. The Merchants prevailed in that overtime game and forced game five at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. 

Game five featured stellar goaltending by Cam Dunkerley in the Rivermen net and Thomas Kiazyk in the Merchants end. 

The Merchants had a slim 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play on goals by Carter Page and Landen Sinfield before Jackson Webster scored late to keep it close. The second frame featured solid defensive play from both sides and highlight reel saves by the goaltenders. The Rivermen scored the first two goals of the middle frame to tie the game and take the lead for a brief time. Page scored with 7:51 on the clock to tie the affair but Thunder Hill with his 41st goal of the season, combined regular season and playoffs, scored late to send the teams to their locker rooms with the Rivermen up 4-3. Carson Christy opened the scoring for the Merchants in the third to tie the contest. Before the celebrations died down on the Merchants bench, Webster added the game winner. The Rivermen scored twice into the empty cage for the 7-4 win as Kiazyk made a series of sprints to the bench in an effort to get back into the game.