Last second goal sinks Dolphins

Dorchester drops their PJHL season opener at home to North Middlesex, 4-3,

but wins 6-3, at Port Stanley, 24 hours later

October 10, 2021

By Rob J. Ross

DORCHESTER, Ont. - The sharper team left with two points.

A goal with three seconds remaining in regulation, lifted the North Middlesex Stars over the Dorchester Dolphins, 4-3, in Dorchester's season opener in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, Friday at the Flight Exec Centre.

"I knew we'd be a little slow out of the gate. First period it really showed and our second was so-so. We had a way better third and it showed on the scoreboard," Dolphins' head coach Mark Steele said. "We just have to gel more as a team. We've only had two practices. The guys who played tonight, they hadn't played in a game together yet. We had four exhibition games but we were making the team. For first time playing together, I thought we were ok."

The Dolphins trailed 3-1 after two periods, before Jakob Marche, set up Josh Short for a power play goal and then tied the game himself, with a minute and seven seconds to go in the third period.

Catching the home side slightly off guard in the dying seconds of regulation, Cameron Amos skated in to the Dolphins' zone and ripped a shot over goalie Liam McCarthy.

"Liam played really well. That is a one in a hundred shot that guy took. Just snuck inside the post. Just a perfect shot. The only spot to beat Liam," said Steele. "We didn't get the win but we battled back. That showed good chemistry."

Dylan Van Dusen tied the game at one for Dorchester, 30 seconds after North Middlesex opened the scoring mid second period.

"Not what we like to see tonight, but we'll get there. It's the first game. We'll shake it off," Dolphins' captain Braidon Duncan said. "We had our legs and everyone was skating and finishing checks. Tempo was there and everybody was moving. Just not the outcome we were looking for."

Returning to the ice for the first time since February 2020 was extra exciting for the players.

"I can't even explain how good it feels. It was a long time. Too long. It feels great to be back around the guys. It's good to be around the rink and see fans again," said Duncan, the Dolphins' new captain. "It's a honour. It's my fourth year and coming in to Dorchester I would have never told you I would be captain. There are a lot of good guys. A lot of guys able to wear the C, but I'm just fortunate enough to wear it."

Marche and Dylan Vandersleen and alternate captains.

Completing the North Middlesex goal scoring were Scott Ferguson, Jamie DeVlught and Ian Lutowicz.

The Dolphins were out shot 60-41 in the game.

Dolphins win at Port

Two short-handed goals helped the Dolphins build a 4-0 lead, on their way to a 6-3 win against the Port Stanley Lakers, Saturday in Port.

Marche, Dean Jackson, Isaac Sturgeon and rookie Brett Holt, had the Dolphins up by four goals, early in the second period.

The Lakers scored twice, with Connor Roberts and Jordan Medeiros netting pucks, cutting the lead in half by the second intermission.

Van Dusen and rookie Caleb Haalstra sandwiched goals around Port's Andrew Gysbers, in the third period.

Dolphins' rookie Gordon Kean had three assists, to go with one he picked up against North Middlesex, for four helpers in two games.

rob@hometownplay.ca