MORRISBURG – Hoping to snap a four-game losing streak, the Morrisburg Lions hosted the first overall South Grenville Rangers November 23rd in the team’s sole game of the week. The Rangers entered the Morrisburg Arena after a big 5-2 win the night before against the North Dundas Rockets.
The Lions had three new players debut with the team in the game, with Wade Moak and Ben Pineault joining from the Char-Lan Rebels in the CCHL2, and Cam Sherrer joining on a trade from the North Dundas Rockets.
South Grenville forward Matthew Berry’s unassisted goal eight minutes into the first period put the visitors on the scoreboard first. Less than 30 seconds later, Justice Brownlee (from Moak and Jack Ingram) tied the game at 1-1. The Rangers retook the lead in the final four minutes of the game on a goal by Jordan Poulin (from Berry and Hunter Shipclark). Brayden Forestell (from Cole Edgely) made it 3-1 less than two minutes later.
Morrisburg held South Grenville to a single goal in the second period in part by the defensive efforts of Kayne McCadden, Jake Amo, and affiliated player Owen Fetterly. That goal, by Poulin 10 minutes into the period (from Berry) made it a 4-1 game for the Rangers.
It was the same story in the third period as the improved efforts in defence by the Lions held back the Rangers until the period was half over. That was when Jacob Servage’s power play goal (from Cameron Dillon) improved South Grenville’s lead to four goals. Cooper Kingston (from Mathieu Giroux) added an insurance goal with 37 seconds remaining, Rangers led the Lions 6-1.
Only 20 seconds later, Ingram (unassisted) scored on a breakaway from the face off. The end result was a 6-2 loss for the defensively-improved Lions.
The Rangers out shot the Lions 58 to 24 as Lions goalie Riley Phillips faced 20 shots in each the second and third periods.
Morrisburg will play in a pair of games this coming weekend. First up, the team will travel to Vankleek Hill to take on the Cougars November 30th. The Lions will host the visiting North Dundas Rockets on December 1st at the Morrisburg Arena, puck drop at 2:15 p.m.
South Grenville also has two games on the schedule for this week. They host the Rockets on November 30th, and visit the West Carleton Inferno December 1st.
