May 7 - Coming off a loss Saturday night in Orillia the Saints we're looking for a bounce back effort against a Brampton team also looking for some redemption after a loss on home floor to the Ironheads.
Dylan Munro got the call in net for Newmarket, while Mitchell Wagner countered for Brampton.
Similar to the third period in Saturday's contest, it was the home team on a roll and the Saints playing catch-up as the Excelsiors jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead just 5:24 into the game on goals by Zachary Sunderland & Lucas Ferreira. Mack Nevin would answer for the Saints on a seeing eyeing shot but Brampton was quick to counter with 2 goals in less then a minute. With the Saints trailing 4-1 it was Nevin again cashing from the outside for the Saints, this time on the powerplay. The period would end with the Excelsiors in control 4-2.
The Saints came out hungry and capitalized early and often in the second frame. Angus Rawding scored just 47 seconds in on a laser from the outside, then it was Aidan Flannery in all alone & Nevin again with his 3rd of the game on the powerplay, completing his first career junior hat trick, giving the Saints a 5-4 lead just 2:54 into the period. Things settled down until Jordan Medeiros tied it at 5's. Rawding in similar fashion got his second of the night and Doug Crawford scored in tight to stretch the lead to 7-5. Some rough stuff resulted in two players aside being ejected. Once things settled down Sunderland cut the lead to one with his second of the night but it was Rawding with another rocket from the outside to complete his first career junior hat trick and send the Saints into the break up 8-6.
The third saw the teams trade chances with both Munro and Wagner standing tall. Off a turnover Kavon Pinnock sprung Justin Berg who buried his 1st career junior goal to increase the Saints lead to three. More rough stuff resulted in two more players being ejected and seemed to give the Excelsiors some life. Just 21 seconds later Sunderland scored his third of the game to close the deficit to 2. However that's as close as Brampton would get. Munro was rock solid for the Saints down the stretch and Kavon Pinnock would ice it with an empty netter.
“It was a good bounce back from Saturday, especially in a tough building." said Saints Head Coach, Dan Ransom Sr. "We got down early and it looked like a bit of repeat from the third frame Saturday. But the guys came together and played a great second and third. That's a character win for our ball club."
Final score: Saints 10 - Excelsiors 7.
Up next - the Saints travel to Mississauga to take on the Tomahawks. Game time is 8PM at Port Credit Arena.