CAREER NIGHT FOR NOLAN BYRNE LEADS BRAMPTON TO WIN AND FOURTH PLACE

Four teams entered play Tuesday night with four wins on the season. Two of them – the Six Nations Arrows and Brampton Excelsiors – faced each other in Brampton with a chance to move up in the standings. Led by stifling defence and a career night from Nolan Byrne, the Excelsiors overpowered their visitors, winning 15-7 ending a two-game losing streak.

Six Nations actually had a lead midway through the first period when McCay Jimerson scored to make it 2-1 Arrows. Following Erich Acton’s tying goal, Chase Cogan gave the lead back to the visitors, only for Acton to score again in the final two minutes to end the period tied 3-3.

From there, it became Nolan Byrne’s game. Not only did the third-year Excelsior score in the opening minute, he also assisted on six of the eventual seven Brampton goals scored. Thunder Hill and Daylin John-Hill scored the lone markers for Six Nations who trailed 10-5 after two.

Byrne wasn’t done there, opening the second period with a pair of goals within 52 seconds. Brampton’s defenders even got in on the scoring late with Connor Blondin netting his first OJLL goal off a faceoff following Cogan’s second. Then, with just under four minutes to play, final-year defender Owen Ciavoiello grabbed a loose ball and took off in transition, scoring a goal that emitted a cheer from his bench and the crowd. It was his second career OJLL goal, but first since the opening game last season May 20. It also made the score 15-7, the eventual final.

Nolan Byrne’s five goals and 10 points are both career-highs. He was one of three Excelsiors with hat tricks along with Tye Scott (3+3) and Erich Acton (3+2). Bowie Horsman added four assists.

McCay Jimerson (2+1) and Chase Cogan (2+0) were the only multiple goal scorers for Six Nations. Matthew Hamill added three assists.

With the win, Brampton jump to fourth in the OJLL standings behind Toronto (8-0), Mimico (6-2) and Whitby (5-3).