AIDEN LONG LEADS ORANGEVILLE TO REMATCH WIN OF OJLL FINALS OVER BURLINGTON

Wednesday night inside a scorching Central Arena, the first rematch of the 2023 Ontario final was held. Following the OLA announcement earlier in the day, the Burlington Blaze entered the game with two extra wins, while the Orangeville Northmen found them in first place. Spearheaded by four second period transition goals from Aiden Long, the Northmen remained atop the OJLL standings with a 12-8 win.

It took just over 3:30 to open the scoring, but just 24 seconds after Alex Marinier did, Will MacLeod made it 2-0 for the home side. Four minutes later rookie Guerin Jennings scored twice in a minute to tie the game at two, where it would stand after one period.

Dylan Sanderson and Liam Matthews restored the two-goal lead just over two minutes into the second. Alex Marinier got one back before Aiden Long took over the period. The Orangeville transition specialist would score four times in the frame, each one except the last answered by a Burlington goal. Just past the midway point of the period four goals stretched between MacLeod’s second and Long’s in a span of just 1:26. In his first career OJLL game, Noah Cupples scored his first goal for Burlington, who trailed 8-6 heading into the final frame.

Following Jackson Foord’s goal a minute into the third, Orangeville scored three times to ice the game. Matthews, Sanderson and Cole Teeple netted goals in a combined 1:51 leading to an eventual 12-8 Northmen victory.

Aiden Long’s four goals matched a career-high. Dylan Sanderson (2+3) had five points, matched by Joey Spallina’s five assists. Liam Matthews (2+2) also had four points.

Will MacLeod (4+3) and Alex Marinier (2+5) both had seven points, and six of Burlington’s eight goals. Cal Leaver-Preyra stopped 48 of 60 shots in a losing effort. With the result no longer in doubt, Mateo Beaudin made his OJLL debut, playing the final 1:10.