Deacon Knott Wins In First Burlington Blaze Start

PHOTO: SAM HOSSACK

The Burlington Blaze made arguably the biggest splash at the trade deadline acquiring Cal Leaver-Preyra and Atty Dwyer from Mimico and Deacan Knott, Zack Thompson and Ben Trumble from Peterborough. On Wednesday night, Knott made his first Blaze start, stopping 36 shots as Burlington beat the Six Nations Arrows 16-11 at the ILA.

Despite four power play opportunities in the first period, Burlington only managed to score on one of them. Braedon Saris’ first goal of the season (in his first game) sandwiched in between the first in the career of Jayden Smith and Will MacLeod’s twenty-fourth. Burlington would lead 5-4 after the first period.

A pair of goals from Matt Hamill and Tyler Davis 38 seconds apart gave Six Nations the lead for the first time. The teams then traded goals twice before Hamill scored on the power play to extend the lead. With just under five minutes to play in the second, Saris, who had eight hat tricks last season, completed his first of this season. That was followed by Alex Marinier’s thirtieth of the year, just the third OJLL player to hit the mark. Two more Burlington goals would fall following a scrap between Steve Dellemonache and Isaac Squire-Hill to have the Blaze up 11-9 heading for the final frame.

Despite two early Arrows goals, it was another Blaze four goal run in the third that capped a 16-11 win, and a share of second place.

Two Burlington players finished the night with seven points; Braedon Saris (3 goals, 4 assists) and Will MacLeod (2 goals, 5 assists). Alex Marinier scored the other hat trick (3 goals, 3 assists) giving him 31 goals on the season, third in the OJLL.

Matt Hamill’s three goals led the Six Nations offense. They also got three points from Tyler Davis, Daylin John-Hill and Oneniotekowa Maracle (1 goal, 2 assists). Ethan Robertson matched his career high for shots faced with 68 (June 2, also against Burlington). He made 52 saves in the loss. It’s the fourth time this season, and third consecutive game, Robertson has topped the 50 save mark.

Burlington will be on the road again Thursday, travelling to Pickering to face the Toronto Beaches (7-7), while the Arrows next game comes Saturday night in St Catharines (7-7).