Weekend Recap: Weekend Split

Mount Brydges, ON – After two intense and spirited contests, the Bulldogs and Flyers are tied with one win apiece after the weekend. Both teams claimed wins at home which sets the stage for a very entertaining game three in Petrolia on Thursday evening.

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Around the PJHL Yeck Division (Monday, March 10, 2025)

Petrolia Flyers 1:1 Mount Brydges Bulldogs
Exeter Hawks 1:2 Port Stanley Sailors

2025 PJHL Playoff Brackets: Click Here

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Game 1: Saturday, March 8 at Petrolia (6-5 OTL – Game Report)

A total of 424 fans packed the Greenwood Recreation Centre to witness a thrilling initial game of this series. At the end of proceedings, the Flyers would earn a 6-5 overtime victory and take the early series lead.

Period 1: Despite being on the road, the Bulldogs would be the team to strike first. Ben Landers (James Hipple, 3:25) broke the scoreless tie and earned his third goal of the post-season. A neutral zone faceoff win, on the defensive side of the redline, started the play as the puck was dumped into the Petrolia zone. Racing to beat the whistle, Landers read the bounce off of the back-wall and released a quick snapshot which eluded Ethan Everaert in the Petrolia goal.

Ryan Richardson replied and equalized for the Flyers at 10:59 via the power-play.

Moments later, at 12:37, Logan Gianelli with a lone effort, would punch back for the Bulldogs. A Petrolia giveaway at the Dogs blueline gave way to Gianelli collecting the puck and streaking down the far-side boards as three Flyers were trailing back in the hopes of catching him. Gianelli, sensing time was limited, would send a quick wrist-shot high and over the blocking arm of Everaert.

Just over four minutes later, Nolan Burnside (Nolan Griffiths, Deacon Kroesbergen, 16:58) would increase the lead for the away side. A play that began at the near-side half-wall, the puck was thrown into the slot and the initial shot attempt was stymied by Everaert. However, waiting in the wings was Burnside who swooped in from the far-side faceoff dot and potted home the goal.

To round out the scoring in the first period, Austin Harper brought the Flyers to within one goal at 18:16.

Period 2: No goals were scored in the middle frame and a penalty-shot save from Aiden Berry aided that statistic as the Bulldogs netminder made an athletic pad save on Austin Harper who was seeking his second of the contest. Harper elected to swoop in from the far-side on his forehand and try to outwait Berry who went down into the splits to ensure his left pad met the puck trying to hit mesh behind him. At the end of the second period, the Bulldogs were still ahead 3-2.

Period 3: Kevin Waters (Noah Cameron) scored his first goal of the post-season, at 1:40, to further increase the Bulldogs lead. Waters collected a pass as he was heading through neutral territory and sensing his momentum could take him further, he pressed on over the offensive blueline, curled around a Petrolia defender, and went cross-crease to tuck the puck into the back of the cage.

Penalty trouble would soon catchup to the Bulldogs as the Flyers would strike twice on the power-play. Tobias Iantorno (6:52) and Ryan Richardson (7:34) leveled the game at 4-4.

Usually providing an assist on the play, Nathan Lavender (Alex Laszlo, 10:24) decided it was his turn to enter the chat as he earned his first tally of the playoffs. An Alex Laszlo dump-in was misplayed by a Petrolia defender who handed the puck on a silver platter for Lavender to pounce on. The silky movement from forehand to backhand in a tight space propelled the Dogs ahead by one.

Just over one minute later (11:33), Owen Peters tied proceedings to ensured overtime was required.

Overtime: At 19:46 of the extra frame, Tobias Iantorno would notch the goal that would be win Petrolia the game and take a 1:0 series lead into Sunday even in Mount Brydges.

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Game 2: Sunday, March 9 vs Petrolia (4-3 W – Game Report)

A total of 369 fans were in attendance at the Tri-Township Arena to witness Game 2 in the best-of-seven series between the Bulldogs and the Flyers. By the end of an intensely played sixty-minutes, the Bulldogs ensured that the series would go back to Petrolia tied at 1:1.

Period 1: Proceedings did not start brightly at home for the Bulldogs as Tobias Iantorno earned his ninth goal of the post-season just 1:52 into the game.

However, at 3:45, the home crowd saw one of their own in Nolan Griffiths (Noah Cameron, Nathan Lavender) light the lamp to tie the game. An offensive zone faceoff win would see the puck dribble back to Griffiths at the blueline. Side-stepping an oncoming Petrolia player, Griffiths found himself in prime scoring position and made no mistake as the over-ager sent a quick wrist-shot over the blocker of Elijah Grant in the Petrolia goal.

Period 2: A tightly contested middle frame saw two goals near the latter stages of the period.

Alex Laszlo (Nolan Griffiths, Ben Landers, 14:39) fired the Bulldogs ahead via the power-play. Yet another offensive zone faceoff win proved fruitful as the circle victory by Landers gave way to Griffiths at the point. Seeing his defensive partner open for business, Griffiths slid a gift over to Laszlo who blasted home a slapshot goal to push the Dogs ahead.

Not to be outdone, Tobias Iantorno entered double digits with his tenth of the playoffs via the power-play.

After forty minutes, the scoreboard read 2-2.

Period 3: Always willing to chip in, Deacon Kroesbergen (Nolan Griffiths, Callum Statchuk, 7:26) put the Dogs up by a goal. A scramble behind the Petrolia net was eventually sorted out by Statchuk who utilized his point-man in Griffiths. Griffiths, weighing out his options, elected to send a quick wrist-shot through a maze of bodies. His attempt was initially stopped by Grant, but the rebound fell kindly for Kroesbergen who made no mistake in ushering the puck over the goal line.

Once again, via the power-play, the Dogs would strike and increase their goal advantage. Ben Landers (Nolan Griffiths, Alex Laszlo) with the goal. A failed Petrolia clearance was swatted down by Griffiths at the point and the over-aged defenseman would walk the line and find Laszlo camped out on the near-side faceoff dot. From there, space opened up between the ranks of the Flyers, and a cross-ice pass from Laszlo met the tape of Landers who wired home the one-timer.

A Logan O’Leary-Dilosa goal at 15:23 brought the score to 4-3, but was the last of the contest.

Aiden Berry continued his strong post-season by way of 27 saves on 30 shots-on-goal. In relief, Logan Griffiths stopped 5 of 5 peppered his way in the very late stages of the game.

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Up Next: Thursday, March 13 at Petrolia, 7:30PM (Game 3)

Next Home Game: Saturday, March 15, 7:30PM (Game 4)

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Mount Brydges Bulldogs Media

Photo Credit: Kassy Howard – KPH Photography