MORRISBURG – The 2021-22 regular season began on a high note for the Morrisburg Lions and ended on a low note with a 4-1 loss to the Almonte Inferno February 13.
The Lions entered their final regular season game on a four game unbeaten streak having beaten the Metcalfe Jets 5-2 on the road February 12.
Forward Noelan Spink (from Josh Broad) put the Lions on the scoreboard five minutes into the game. Morrisburg led Almonte 1-0 into the second period.
The Inferno scored twice in under 30 second to take a 2-1 lead early in the second period. First Aydon Poulson, then Chris Martin, found their way past Lions’ starting goaltender Andrew Brooks. Almonte continued on to score a total of four unanswered goals against Morrisburg in the game.
Late in the second period Martin scored again, followed by Adam Goodfellow early in the third period.
Almonte handed Morrisburg their 15th loss of the season 4-1.
Morrisburg found success on the ice the night before in Metcalfe, grounding the Jets 5-2.
The Lions did not find the back of the net until early in the second period. In less than a minute Brody Villeneuve and Owen Mahoney each scored (unassisted) to take a 2-1 lead. The Jets fired back to tie the game seconds later.
The two teams remained deadlocked until Justice Brownlee (from Ethan Mahoney) scored the go-ahead-goal to give the Lions the 3-2 lead.
Ethan Mahoney (from Wade Moak) and Owen Fetterly (unassisted) added insurance goals in the third period to secure the 5-2 victory. Brooks earned his first career win between the pipes for the Lions in this game.
Morrisburg finish seventh overall in the National Capital Junior Hockey League, their highest finish since joining the league in 2015. The season was shortened due to pandemic-related shutdowns over the Christmas holidays and January.
Morrisburg will now battle their St. Lawrence River rivals, the South Grenville Rangers, in the first round of the playoffs beginning February 19 in Cardinal. Puck drop in starchtown is 5:15 p.m.
The Rangers finished second overall but have only won one of their last four games, a forfeit win against the Gatineau Hull-Volant.
The river rivalry will continue at the Morrisburg Arena on February 20 at 2:15 p.m.
