Adam Prudhomme
Editor
The Deseronto Bulldogs’ return to meaningful games didn’t go as they would have liked as they opened their Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League season with a pair of road losses over the weekend.
On Saturday they were blown out 9-2 by the West Carleton Rivermen before coming back with a more competitive effort on Sunday, ultimately falling 5-3 to the Tweed Oil Kings.
Deseronto fell behind 3-0 to their Hasting County rivals on Sunday before Evan Foley got the visitors on the board with help from Brodie Butt and Chris Atanas.
The Bulldogs were unable to close the gap any further from there as the two teams alternated goals the rest of the way. Alex Basey scored with just under seven minutes to go in the second to cut the deficit to 4-2, only to see Tweed respond just over a minute later. Griffen Conger had the lone goal of the third to once again bring Deseronto to within a pair of goals, but the offense was unable to complete the rally.
Murray Free had a pair of goals for the Oil Kings to pace their offense. Graeme Gemmill made the start in net for the Bulldogs while Matt Loveys earned the win for Tweed.
In Saturday’s season opener the Rivermen jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back.
Deseronto’s Liam Hunter scored on the power-play with 4:18 left to go in the second to break the shutout with Cullen Hinds and Mitch Merry earning assists.
Atanas found the back of the net early in the third with Foley and Brenden Bouvier drawing assist on the play to cut the deficit to 6-2. Any thoughts of a thrilling comeback to open the season were snuffed out as the Rivermen scored three times in the final eight minutes, two of those goals coming short-handed while the final was on a power-play. The Rivermen out-shot the Bulldogs 43-18 on the night. Stephen Blunden and Greg Harding each had a pair of goals for the home team. Trevor Withers took the loss for Deseronto.
The Bulldogs will hope Saturday’s homecoming can turn their fortunate around as they host the Smiths Falls Rideaus at 6:30 p.m. at the Deseronto Community Rec Centre. The game will mark the Bulldogs’ first regular season game on home ice since Feb. 8, 2020.