Brampton Excelsiors Stay Hot With Home Win Over Kitchener-Waterloo
Don’t look now, but on Wednesday night a Six Nations loss paired with a Brampton home win over Kitchener-Waterloo would put the Excelsiors in a potential playoff spot. After starting the season 1-7, a 12-9 victory on Wednesday now gives them four wins in their last five.
It didn’t look like that’d be the case early on, especially when Chris Rathwell scored 24 seconds into the game. Brampton would get a pair back though, shifting the lead their way. The score was evened up just past the halfway mark with Lowen Martin’s unassisted goal. Eric Ward then closed out a 3-2 first period in favour of Brampton.
Four Brampton penalties in the second led to a number of special teams goals. First, just the second power play goal (out of 13) from first overall pick Clark Dunford. Bowie Horsman then added a power play goal of his own. Ty Jesso followed Caiden Merritt’s marker to tie the game. A late Brampton major penalty for checking from behind did not lead to power play goals, rather, two shorthanded markers. Rathwell’s second goal closed out the second period with Brampton still up, now 7-6.
There were plenty more goals to come in the third. It was Brampton’s turn to go on the power play early, and Eric Ward capitalized on both chances. The run continued with Horsman and Phoenix Pullen making it four Brampton goals in 1:20, and three in 48 seconds. KW did their best to try and claw back with a pair of their own in 46 seconds, but in the end Brampton secured the 12-9 win to move into eighth in the standings.
Bowie Horsman and Dante Kulas, as they’ve done many times before, led the Excelsiors offense with seven points each (3 goals, 4 assists). Eric Ward scored the other hat trick.
On Kitchener’s side, Clark Dunford had six points (2 goals, 4 assists), while Chris Rathwell had four (2 goals, 2 assists).
Brampton will look to stay hot, travelling to Mimico (7-5) on Friday. Also on Friday, Kitchener-Waterloo will welcome the Peterborough Lakers (3-9) to Kinsmen Arena.
