Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Trevor Withers turned away all 30 shots he saw to lead the Deseronto Bulldogs to a 3-0 win over the Gananoque Islanders Saturday afternoon at Napanee’s SPC.
The victory capped off a perfect 2-0 Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League pre-season for the Dogs.
After both teams skated to a scoreless first period, Brodie Butt opened the scoring with assists from Ethan Coens and William Harrison.
Brodie Maracle doubled the lead with help from Cullen Hinds before Joey Mayer rounded out the scoring, converting on a feed from Will Lamoureux and Chris Atanas.
Withers was strong in net, shutting out an Islanders team that came into the game on the strength of a 15-4 win in their previous match against the Frontenac Phantoms.
Deseronto meanwhile defeated Smiths Falls 7-6 in overtime in their other pre-season game back on Sept. 18.
Exhibition season now wrapped up, the Bulldogs will get their long awaited second regular season underway this weekend with a pair of road games. They kick off Opening Night with a trip to West Carleton Rivermen at 8:15 p.m. at the Nick Smith Centre. The Rivermen went to the league finals back in 2020, the inaugural season of the EOSHL, falling to the Cornwall Prowlers.
Following Saturday’s opener the Bulldogs will be in Tweed on Sunday night to face the expansion Oil Kings. Puck drop is 2 p.m. at the Municipality of Tweed Community Centre.
The Bulldogs will make their long awaited return to the Deseronto Community Rec Centre for their home opener on Oct. 9 against the Smiths Falls Rideaus. Game time is 6:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs haven’t played in Deseronto since the conclusion of the 2019-20 season. Last year’s season was completed nixed due to the pandemic, though the Bulldogs were able to play a series of exhibition games in Napanee.
Deseronto is scheduled to play 20 games this season, split evenly between home and away.
While the Bulldogs were wrapping up exhibition play, a handful of EOSHL teams got their regular seasons started. The Glengarry Pipers defeated the Bytown Royals 5-4 while the Rideaus topped the Rivermen 7-1 and the South Grenville Rangers took down the Maxville Mustangs 7-2.