Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Bailey Maracle’s 40 save effort helped the visiting Deseronto Bulldogs squeak out a 2-1 win over the Smiths Falls Rideaus on Saturday night.
Noah Brant got the Bulldogs on the board first, scoring midway through the second period. Smiths Falls’ Kyle Dowdall replied with just over two minutes left in the frame.
The game remained at a 1-1 stalemate until just shy of the halfway point of the third when Cullen Hinds notched the go-ahead goal. That tally would remain the difference as the Bulldogs held on for the win, moving one step closer to locking up the top seed in the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League’s West Division. At the very least they’ve sewn up nothing worse than the second seed.
Deseronto is now 15-3 on the season, holding a five point lead (30-25) over the second place Gananoque Islanders. The Islanders have played just 16 games on the season however while the Bulldogs have 18 played-with each team slated to play 20 games total.
As fate would have it, the Bulldogs’ final two games will be against the Islanders. The first will be a road match on Friday. The very next night on Feb. 3 the Bulldogs will host the Islanders at the Deseronto Community Rec Centre. Puck drop for that game will be 6:30 p.m.
Following Saturday’s game the Islanders will wrap up their regular season with a Feb. 10 game against the Rideaus and a Feb. 11 match at home against the Tweed Oil Kings.