Points Keep Adding Up for the Merchants

By Mark Stehlin

The 25th anniversary celebrations continue for the Brooklin Merchants as they added another two points to the win column last evening with an 11-4 home win over the Owen Sound NorthStars. It was the same NorthStars that handed the Merchants their first of two losses on the season in early May. The win gives the Merchants a record of 12-2 good for first overall with a pair of games remaining. The Six Nations Rivermen are four points adrift in second with three games left in their schedule.

The Merchants added a few call-ups to the roster including Carsyn Kent, Sean Molloy and Caleb Wells to back up Deacan Knott.

The home side jumped out to a 5-0 lead in this battle before Jordan Caskanette added one for the visitors and the teams went to break with the Merchants holding a 5-1 lead.

A steady stream of players from both teams made their way to the penalty box as the trio of referees called a number of infractions. The NorthStars amassed 28 penalty minutes over the first two periods compared to the Merchants 24.

The middle frame featured a four-goal run for the Merchants that started after an early marker for the visitors. With the score 7-2, Adam Perroni using a wooden stick took off on transition and made a nice pass to Liam Osborne in full flight. Osborne used a series of fakes to get NorthStars netminder Dante Mancini to commit before he deposited the ball over the keepers shoulder to extend the lead for the Merchants.

The third period included an even steadier number of players making their way to the penalty box. A total of four goals were scored in that period two for each team. In addition, a total of 16 penalties were called, 9-7 in favour of the visitors.

Call-up Carsyn Kent had a busy and memorable weekend of lacrosse. On Friday night he was in Kahnawake about 30 minutes southwest of Montreal with his Clarington Green Gaels for game three of their best of five Ontario Junior B Lacrosse play-off series against the Kahnawake Hunters. The Gaels lost that game 12-7 and bowed out of the series 3-0.

“I got back to rink at 2:30 this afternoon and got home around 3:15 or so. I got word earlier that I was being asked to play and I didn’t hesitate to say yes,” said Kent.

“I enjoy being here a lot, it’s a great experience and everyone is passionate about the game so it’s a fun time,” added Kent.

Kent will be a Junior at D’Youville University in Buffalo, NY this fall. In two years with the Saints lacrosse program he has played in 30 games and added 25 goals, seven assists for 32 points.

Scoring – P Pipher (0,2) Tucker (0,1) Robertson (0,1) Saris (1,2) Pullera (2,1) Perroni (0,1) D Pipher (0,1) Marinier (1,2) MacLeod (5,1) Carrigan (1,5) Renaud (0,1) Osborne (1,2)

The Merchants wrap up their regular season next weekend, a trip to Collingwood on Saturday at 2 pm and home to the NorthStars on Sunday at 7 pm.