OAKVILLE BUZZ SWARM THE OVEN, OUTDUEL BURLINGTON BLAZE

Burlington’s 2-3 record coming into Sunday night may look somewhat shocking given the Blaze’s status as defending Minto Cup champions. However, both wins came at Central Arena in Burlington and they welcomed in the Oakville Buzz to start a five-game home stand. The teams traded runs all night long, but in the end the combination of Brian Jackman and Will Sheehan proved to be too much as they powered Oakville to a 12-9 win.

Four Buzz players all scored in the first period – Jackman and Jack MacAlpine 19 seconds apart, Riley Ford and Sheehan in the final minute. Sandwiched in between was the first OJLL goal for Burlington’s Sawyer English, but the Blaze trailed 4-1.

The lead would be erased less than six minutes into the second. Alex Marinier, Chuck Rawson and the first OJLL goal for Ted Rawson got Burlington back into the game. Jackman and Sheehan would score before the end of the period though, keeping the Buzz up at the break, 6-5.

Oakville opened the third with another run, this one 3-1 featuring Charlie Boon scoring 25 seconds after Marinier. It would be the Blaze veteran who would stop the run, but Oakville then responded with three more including Jackman’s fourth. The Blaze would score twice late, but could not close the gap further as Oakville win in The Oven, 12-9.

Brian Jackman’s four goals and seven points are both career highs. Will Sheehan matched his career high with nine points (2+7). Dante Mancini stopped 48 of Burlington’s 57 shots, winning in his first start of the season.

Alex Marinier led the way for Burlington with seven points (3+4). His third hat trick of the season gives him 13 goals, and a share of fourth in the OJLL. He shares that spot with teammate Will MacLeod who had four points (2+2) and now sits atop the OJLL leaderboard with 38 in six games.