Pirates lose firefight to high scoring Jets

Picton’s Matt Petrut had a goal in his club’s 6-5 loss to Amherstview Thursday night.

By Jason Parks
The Amherstview Jets visited the home port of the Picton Pirates Oct. 22 and played a game that seemed like whoever took the last shot would wind up being the winner.

Picton managed to escape with a 9-6 win but the contest felt much, much closer than then three goal margin indicated.

Seven days later, the Jets were back in Picton. With both teams having played other Tod Division rivals in the meantime, any seasoned PJHL observer would have assumed both squads had worked out the kinks and a better managed, offensively deficient affair was in the offing.

Fat chance.

In another wild one at Huff Estates Arena, it was the Jets giving up the lead with less than 10 minutes left to play only to come storming back with a pair of goals in a 37 second span to fly off with a 6-5 win.

The loss dropped Picton to 6-6-2. The Bucs trail the Napanee Raiders for fourth place in the Tod by two points.

Take the Over

After a scoreless first, Picton and Amherstview kept traded goals in the second and third in an exhilarating example of firewagon hockey that likely left Jets bench boss Evan Robinson and Picton counterpart Rick Van Vlack fit to be tied.

One time Wellington Dukes farmhand Brad Wilson and Blake Wood had goals for Amherstview in the second. Current Dukes affiliated players Isaiah More and Ty Mulder countered for Picton.

Tied 2-2 after two, Gabe Williams picked the pocket of a Picton puck carrier and scored a shorthanded goal at 11:50 to re-establish a one goal Amherstview margin for the third time in the game.

But Picton showed some pluck and tied up the game at the nine minute mark. Joey Coates fed Gerrit Kempers for the captain’s ninth of the season and it was 3-3.

Exactly 60 seconds later, Will Potts fired a puck from just outside the slot area and the biscuit found a home in Amherstview’s basket. Pott’s first of the campaign pushed the hosts ahead for the first time in the contest at 4-3.

Picton’s joy lasted about 15 seconds. Potts was whistled for a minor just moments after his first tally of the season.

Less than a minute after Picton had pulled in front, Wilson banged home a power play at 7:07 to square the affair at 4-4.

The goals kept coming but, unfortunately for the hosts, the next one came off the stick of a Jet.

And what a goal it was.

Ryan Carter Babcock motored to the slot area all alone with the puck and went between the legs to flummox Picton starter Nick Parado at 6:30. The highlight reel tally put the visitors back in front to stay.

Wilson capped off his hat trick into a yawning Picton net to make it 6-4. Wilson’s third of the night stood up as the winner as Picton’s Matt Petrut scored with 20 seconds left to bring Picton back to within one at 6-5.

Up Next

The Pirates try to quiet the Trent Hills Thunder Thursday and then ship off to Amherstview on Sunday.