Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A four-point night from Noah Brant was the difference as the Deseronto Bulldogs knocked off the first place Gananoque Islanders 8-5 at the Deseronto Community Rec Centre on Saturday.
Brant finished the night with three goals and an assist, helping the ‘Dogs emerge victorious in a back-and-forth battle.
Brant picked up three of those points in the first, assisting on Brodie Maracle’s opening goal just under five minutes into the game. After Chris Latimer tied things up at 1-1, Brant reeled off consecutive goals in a span of three-and-a-half minutes to give the Bulldogs a lead they’d never surrender.
The Islanders kept it close all night however, at one point climbing to within a goal at 5-4-this was after the Bulldogs had built a 5-2 advantage.
Brant created a little breathing room with his third of the night to push the lead to 6-4, only to see Ryan Verbeek answer right back at bring the Islanders back to within a goal heading into the third.
The Bulldogs kept their cool and prevailed however, adding a pair of unanswered goals over the final 20 minutes to secure the win.
Deseronto’s Jonny Hill also had a four-point night with two goals and two assists. Jordan Cannons and Carter Thorton also found the back of the net for Deseronto. Corey Kuypers earned the win with 32 saves.
For Deseronto the win pulls them back to within even, now 9-10 on the season, sitting fifth in the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League’s West Division with 18 points. The Islanders continue to lead despite the loss, falling to 13-5-1 on the year, good for 27 points. Tweed is just behind them at 12-6-1 (25), followed by Arnprior (21) and Smiths Falls (20). Frontenac is sixth at 3-15-1 (seven).
The Bulldogs are back home again this Saturday when they host an inter-division game, taking on the Cornwall Prowlers, who come into the match with a record of 5-10-3, fourth place in their division. Puck drop is 6:30 p.m. That game will mark the final one of the regular season before the playoffs get underway.