Offensive Outburst From Rookies Shoots the Saints Passed the Excelsiors

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.

View Game Photos.

Up next - the Saints travel to Mississauga to take on the Tomahawks. Game time is 8PM at Port Credit Arena.

Saints let one Slip Away as Youthful Mistakes Help Lift Kings to 10-7 win

May 6 - From the beginning, the 2018 season has been about giving the Saints franchise a fresh start. A new look, a new attitude and a lot of new players. Growing pains are naturally also going to be part of that process and the Saints showed their age in the back-end of a home-and-home with the Kings.

Cory Campbell manned the goal for Newmarket, while Andrew Denne started for Orillia.

Much like the first game between these clubs, the Saints got off to a quick start. Rookie Josh Connors scored his first Jr goal, quickly followed by a tally by Will Lynch. Then the parade to the box reemerged for the Saints. The Kings capitalized with two on the power play and added another to take the lead. A jewelry call also cost the Saints Luca Romano for the game. Newmarket managed to rally and tie the game at 3s with Lynch’s second to go into the break knotted up.

The second started with the Kings controlling the play, leading to a pair of goals less than six minutes in. Once again, the Saints responded. Aiden Flannery finished off a nice fast break pass from Dante Romano, followed quickly by Romano putting home one of his own. Just over five minutes later, Kavon Pinnock flashed some incredible speed and gave the Saints the lead. A spirited tussle between Connors and the Kings Michael Greco seemed to have tilted momentum Newmarket’s way and the team went into intermission up 6-5.

But in the third, it was the Kings that dug in and took over. They tied the game a minute in, kicking off a five goal run. Add in some big stops by Denne in the Kings goal and it was enough to give Orillia the win.

“We had the game where we wanted it, 6-5 going to the third, and we let it slip away,” said Saints Head Coach, Dan Ransom Sr. “We made some rookie mistakes, players and coaches, and in the end they capitalized on their chances. Give their team credit, they showed their veteran presence, and they earned it.”

Final score: Kings 10 - Saints 7.

Up next - the Saints travel to Brampton to take on the Excelsiors. Game time is 7PM at Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre.

Saints Hold Off Kings to Snag Elusive W in Dramatic Fashion

May 4th – It’s no secret the Saints entered the 2018 season on an infamous losing streak. But four games in, the boys finally got that elephant off their backs with a dramatic 9-8 win over the Orillia Kings.

Dylan Munro started in net for the Saints, while Dylan O’Rourke got the call for the Kings. Early on, Newmarket controlled the play, generating several chances and resets, before Eric Mawdsley, playing his first game of the season, got the Saints on the board. Mack Nevin followed up just minutes later to extend the lead.

A march to the penalty box reversed the momentum and gave the Kings life. Munro stood tall, making several stops on a lengthy 5-on-3, but Orilla managed to sneak one in to cut the lead in half. The team went into the break with the score 2-1 Saints.

The second started a little shaky for the Saints with a series of turnovers. Munro weathered the storm until things settled down and the teams began trading chances. Will Lynch and Luca Romano tallied to make it 4-1 Saints, Orillia got two back, before Liam Hamilton and David Eadie, scoring his first Jr goal, restored the three goal lead. The score was 6-3 at the intermission.

In the third, the back and forth continued, with Orillia scoring twice and Mawdsley answering back each time. Then the Saints got into foul trouble again, setting up another 5-on-3, and three straight Orillia goals evened the score at 8s. With momentum clearly shifting in the Kings favour, the Saints called a timeout to stem the tide. When play resumed, the Saints were still short, and a determined Austin Pringle stepped up. He blocked a shot, grabbed the ball and headed up floor, bullying his way to the net and potting the go-ahead goal.

A furious final eight minutes saw the Kings do everything but find the equalizer, giving the Saints their first victory of the year.

“It feels good to win. It was winning ugly, but it's still a win,” said Saints Head Coach, Dan Ransom Sr. “They pushed back in the 3rd, we were a little undisciplined, but in the end it was a nice win for the club, especially for the guys who've been here in the lean times. So now, we have a new streak, one win in a row.”

Final score - Saints 9 - Kings 8.

Next up – the Saints travel to Orillia for the back-end of the home-and-home with the Kings. Game time is 7PM at Rotary Place.

Saints Hang in With Buzz, but Lose Third Straight

April 29th – For the third straight game, the Saints faced off with one of the top teams in the East. This time, it was the Oakville Buzz and, despite Newmarket’s best effort so far, the team came out on the wrong end of the score again.

Cory Campbell got the nod in net for the Saints. Things looked promising in the first with Campbell and Newmarket’s defence standing tall and stifling the bulk of Oakville’s chances. The Buzz managed to bulge the twine twice to go into the intermission up 2-0.

At the break, an energetic Paperweight team from the Saints’ minor affiliate, the Redbirds, hit the floor. The future stars put on quite the show for the fans, including scoring on Saints goaltender Dylan Munro. 

When action resumed for the big kids, the Buzz kept pressing and they were rewarded with four more goals in the second. Before the buzzer, Luca Romano got the Saints on the board with a nice outside shot. The period ended 6-1 for the Buzz.

In the third, Oakville’s relentless pressure and a shortened bench took a toll on the Saints. The Buzz found the net seven times in the period, while Luca Romano and Dougie Crawford answered for Newmarket.

"We were right there with them for the first two periods. Yeah, the third got away from us a little, but the effort is there, we just need to work on the execution," said Saints Head Coach, Dan Ransom Sr. "Getting back to practice to work on that execution and having the veteran presence we have now will make it a more positive environment for our guys new to the Junior game."

Fatigue may also be playing a factor. This was the third game in four days for the Saints and it's led to a busy start to the season for the goalies. "Our keepers have been getting a lot of shots," said Ransom. "They've been standing tall with the opposition getting too many good looks. We have to cut that down."

Final score – Buzz 13 – Saints 3.

Next up – the Saints kick off a home-and-home against the Orillia Kings. First game is Thursday night at Ray Twinney, opening faceoff 8PM.

Saints Drop Second Straight to Gaels

April 28th – The Saints home opener featured the unveiling of a new home jersey and a new era of Junior B lacrosse in Newmarket. The task at hand was another tough one as the Saints hosted the Gaels in the back-end of a home-and-home.

Dylan Munro got the call in goal, starting his first game for the Saints. Things got off to a nice start for the red, blue and white side. Angus Rawding netted his first as a Saint, followed up by another tally from Kavon Pinnock a few minutes later. But once again, the Gaels started chipping away, putting up five for their side, to finish the first up 5-2.

The second saw the Gaels get one early, then the teams settled in, trading chances. Austin Pringle answered back for the Saints mid-way through the period, but once again, the Gaels stepped it up with a four-goal flurry to end the period up 10-3.    

The third period was all Gaels. On a bright note, rookie Brodie Willard buried his first goal, but it wasn’t enough.

"That is a damn good ball club. If you’re not making mistakes, you aren't playing hard enough to help your team," said Saints Head Coach, Dan Ransom Sr. "We made some bad choices with the ball, having possession, giving it up and making it hard on ourselves. They don't need our help, we have to help ourselves.

“On the bright side, these are coachable things we can correct with the group of talented players we have playing for us."

Final score: Gaels 20 - Saints 5

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The Saints get right back at it on Sunday, hosting the Oakville Buzz. Game starts at 2PM at Ray Twinney.

Saints Fall to Gaels in Season Opener After Promising Start

April 26th – The Saints opened the 2018 season in the belly of the beast, facing off with the defending Eastern Conference champs, the Clarington Green Gaels. Twelve Saints were getting their first taste of Junior B action and, early on, the youthful squad seemed unfazed by the moment.

Luca Romano opened the scoring just over a minute into the game, netting his first career goal. After that, rookie Dougie Crawford took over, scoring four times in the first period. Clarington didn’t back down and responded, scoring three late goals to head into the intermission with a 6-5 lead. 

The second period opened with the teams trading chances. Saints rookie goaltender Cory Campbell stood tall, but then the Gaels dug in and went on a run. Seven goals in eight minutes put the Saints on their heels and Clarington in the driver seat. The period closed at 13-6 for the Gaels.

 “We caught them early, hitting them hard and fast,” said Saints Head Coach, Dan Ransom Sr. “They realized they were in a game then and, being the experienced ball club that they are, they ramped it up.”

The third period saw the Gaels keep the pressure on. They added two more tallies in the first two minutes and then stifled the Saints attack with solid defence the rest of the way.

Final score: Gaels 18 - Saints 6.

View game photos.

Next up – these two teams get right back at it. The Saints host the Gaels in their home opener at Ray Twinney at 3PM. Be sure to get there early as the Saints will be unveiling their new home jerseys and giving fans a chance to win one of their vintage jerseys.