Northmen Overpower St. Catharines Athletics in 15-3 Victory

PHOTO: JERAMIE BAILEY

As if the Orangeville Northmen needed any more help on offense. The only undefeated OJLL team already led the league in goals scored and against (for a +56 differential – a full 48 points higher than their closest competitor), but on Wednesday night they welcomed back Trey Deere for his first game of the season. Not missing a beat, Deere scored five goals and added two assists as the Northmen trampled the St Catharines Athletics on their own floor with a 15-3 win. 

The A’s could only muster one goal per period from Carson Robins (his first since May 23, 2022), Jackson Webster and Tye Steenhuis respectively. Steenhuis was in on all three goals, including his own sixteenth of the season, tying him with a number of others for tops in the OJLL. 

In the first period alone, which Orangeville led 8-1, the combination of Deere, Jameson Bucktooth and Koleton Marquis had a combined 11 points. Bucktooth ended the night with his first hat trick of the season (he had five in 2022), adding five assists. Marquis finished with five points (1 goal, 4 assists). 

The usual suspects were involved as well, don’t worry. Liam Matthews had a five point night (2 goals, 3 assists) for the fourth time in six games this season. And Joey Spallina added five assists to his haul, which now totals 39 points in seven games, good enough for second in the OJLL behind Mimico’s Finn Thomson (47). 

And then there was Chris Origlieri who wasn’t idle by any stretch of the imagination. He stopped 42 of 45 St Kitts shots fired his way for a measly three goals against. Despite being second in the league in minutes played (386, behind Toronto’s Andrew Kidd’s 406) the San Diego Seals netminder has surrender less than half Kidd’s total. His GAA is nearly three goals clear of the next qualifying goaltender at 4.51, and he’s the only OJLL goaltender with a save percentage starting with nine (0.904 for those scoring at home). 

St Catharines are happy to be clear of Orangeville for the season, losing by a combined 20 goals this week. Their next action is on the road, taking on the Toronto Beaches (3-4) on Thursday night in Pickering. 

The Northmen will look to remain undefeated at home on Friday night against the Burlington Blaze (5-2) in the OJLL Game of the Week, presented by the Ontario Dairy Farmers. Be sure to subscribe to the official OJLL YouTube channel to tune in.