Powerplay penalties prove a problem for Pirates

By Jason Parks

Picton’s Isaiah More scored for the Pirates in a 5-2 loss in Amherstview Sunday night. 

The Picton Pirates (0-1-2) return to port Thursday night for their home opener against Lakefield not completely devoid of success from a three-game road trip to kick off the 2026-2027 Provincial Junior Hockey League season.

On the PJHL’s opening weekend, a pair of regulation ties produced a couple of points for Picton.

But bad penalties on Sunday night in Amherstview upended any chance for Picton to stay undefeated in regulation through their three-contest sojourn.

Deadlocked at 2-2 after 40 minutes, Carter McKee set up Brad Wilson just over four minutes into the third period to push the host Jets ahead to stay.

McKee later set up former Wellington Duke Quinn McNamara at the midway point of the frame for some insurance and Gabe Williams’s unassisted goal in the late going capped off a three goal period for Amherstview and lifted them to a 5-2 win.

The game was a frustrating one for the Pirates. Three times Picton was handed a power play opportunity only to foul a Jets skater and negate the man advantage shortly thereafter.

The Pirates got off to the start they wanted. Isaiah More collected an Alex Lavender rebound at 8:33 and beat Amherstview starter Tyson Wilcox for the Belleville native’s second tally of the season.

For County Minor Hockey grad Lavender, it was the rookie’s first PJHL point.

Picton was close to getting out of the period unscathed but McNamara picked the corner on Pirates starter Nick Parodo with just 48 seconds left in the stanza to make it 1-1 after one.

The Jets pushed ahead in the second at the 3:22 mark of the second. Parodo handled former Pirate Wes Jackson’s shot from distance but a juicy rebound was left in the slot area for Williams to pounce on and put the hosts in the driver’s seat at 2-1.

Picton answered back at the 11:28 mark of the second when Jaxson Payne showed a deft touch at the side of the net, deflecting Matt Petrut’s point volley off the crossbar and past an overmatched Wilcox for the Bloomfield native’s second marker in three games.

After hosting Lakefield Thursday, the Bucs are back in Frankford on Saturday for the second time this season. On Thursday, Oct. 1, Picton meets up with Port Hope at Huff Estates Arena for the first time in 2026-27.