Defending Champions Stunned By Six Nations Arrows

Photo: Brandon Taylor / OJLL

Helping celebrate Bread and Cheese day at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, the Six Nations Arrows stunned the defending Minto Cup Champion Burlington Blaze on Monday afternoon. The home side were down early, but rode a 66 save performance from Sakaronhiotane Thompson to an 8-6 win.

Burlington head coach Alex Crepinsek’s debut started with an early power play goal from Alex Marinier. He’d score again less than a minute later, two-thirds of the way to an eventual hat trick. Arrows’ rookie Chase Cogan matched a Matt Perreira goal, but later in the period Will Macleod scored another power play marker to give the Blaze a 4-1 lead after the first period.

The second belonged to Thunder Hill. The third-year graduating senior registered five points in the period, including scoring four times – three straight in 3:20 to close out the period – to cap a 6-1 frame for the home side, and a 7-5 lead.

Hill wasn’t done there. He opened the third scoring his fifth of the game on the power play. After being called for roughing, however, Hill watched Marinier complete his hat trick with just over five minutes remaining. That’s as close as Burlington would come though, losing their opening road contest 8-6.

Thunder Hill was by far the offensive star for the Arrows scoring five goals and adding two assists. Chase Cogan (1+3) was one of only two other goal scorers (Jaden Jimerson and Kaelen Smith). Sakaronhiotane Thompson allowed just six goals from 72 registered Blaze shots in his second OJLL start – previously a 9-8 OT win over Peterborough May 26, 2023.

Alex Marinier, who finished third in the OJLL in 2023 with 49 goals scored three and added an assist. Will MacLeod led Burlington (1+4). Matt Perrreira and Hayden Hiltz were the only other goal scorers. In his first OJLL start Calum Leaver-Peryra stopped 44 of 52 shots.

Both teams will next play on Friday, May 24 with Burlington travelling to Ted Reeve Arena to face the Toronto Beaches and Six Nations making the trek to Peterborough, a game available on OJLL TV.