Six Nations Wins A Wild One In Brooklin

Photo courtesy of Sam Hossack 

Written by Gary Groob  - All Lacrosse All The Time 

The Six Nations Rivermen (12-1) traveled east to me the Brooklin Merchants (10-2) in a battle for first place at the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena in Whitby, Ontario Sunday evening. 

These two teams have been the class of the league only losing two games to this point of the season.  Both teams sport a lot of firepower. Wes Whitlow (21g,26a), Jordan Durston (25g,25a) and Jordan Goddard (14g 26a) have led the way for the Rivermen.  Eddie Renaud (20g,31a), Devon Pipher (20g,30, Christian Watts (19g 30a), Parker Pipher (16g,24a), Zac Carrigan (13g, 15a) and Kellen Pulera (12g, 15a) have led the way for Six Nations. 

The goaltending match-up had Dusty Hill in net for the Rivermen facing Deacan Knott in net for the Merchants. 

In a game that had 76 penalty minutes in the first period alone, and 141 minutes altogether, this was a wild one from the very start.  To add to the drama, after being chirped all night, one of the officials left the game (and the arena) with five minutes left to play, not to return, therefore stopping the game short of the sixty minutes.

Special teams were quite special in this game with Six Nations scoring three power-play goals as well as three shorthanded goals.   Brooklin was almost as impressive scoring four power-play goals in the game.  The Rivermen were able to ride a big second period (scoring six times) to the 11-6 victory.

To The Game:

Zane Delpe got Six Nations rolling quickly converting a Sam LeClair pass at 0:29 seconds, followed by Wake:Riat Bowhunter with a laser from in front of the net off a Brooker Muir feed shorthanded at 5:22.

Zac Carrigan cut the lead in half with a sidearm screen shot that beat Dusty Hill at 7:45 on the power-play, but Sam LeClair answered with a shot from in close off a Zach Herrewyers pass also shorthanded at 11:00.

The parade to the penalty box started at this point, with 26:00 of penalties issued after the goal.

Kobe Handsor put Brooklin on the board on the power-play off an Alexis Simard pass at 12:35, but Jordan Durston answered with a shorthanded goal off a Wake:Riat Bowhunter feed at 9:15.

Christian Watts scored another power-play goal for the Merchants off a Devon Pipher feed at 16:54.

After one period, Six Nations 4 Brooklin 3.

Second Period:

Jerry Staats got it going for the Rivermen blasting a Sam LeClair pass at 0:10 seconds, followed by Jordan Goddard converting a Wake:Riat Bowhunter pass at 4:41.  Zane Delpe then got his second of the game finding the corner off a Kaden Brennan pass at 8:50.

Parker Pipher got Brooklin on the board in the second period firing a Christian Watts pass at 9:20, followed by Devon Pipher finishing a Rory McRory feed at 12:31.

Six Nations finished the period with a flurry.  Jordan Durston converted a Brooker Muir pass on the power-play at 13:38, followed by Zane Delpe's third of the game also on the power-play at 14:45.  Brooker Muir then scored off a Marcus Elvin pass at 14:25.

After two periods, Six Nations 10 Brooklin 5.

Third Period:

The teams exchanged power-play goals in the third.  Devon Pipher converted a Parker Pipher pass at 0:17 seconds on the power-play, but Jordan Goddard answered also on the power-play finishing a Zane Delpe pass at 9:58.

The rough play continued as did the parade to the penalty box, but no more goals were scored.

Final score, Six Nations 11 Brooklin 6.

The Three Stars:

1. Zane Delpe 

2. Jordan Durston 

3. Devon Pipher