BLC Shakes off Spate of One Goal Losses with a One Goal Win

By Mark Stehlin

After four consecutive losses, each by a single goal, the Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) packed up their gear for the Thursday night drive to Brampton’s Memorial Arena. This was the third and final meeting of the season between the teams and BLC was looking to get back to winning ways. Earlier in the season, BLC won 12-11 away at Brampton and 7-4 at home. This game also featured a match-up between the number one draft pick in the 2025 Major Series Entry draft Brampton’s in Finn Thomson against number two in Brooklin’s Will MacLeod. Despite a shaky opening frame and a goalless third period for the visitors they found a way to pull this one out by a 10-9 final. In Peterborough tonight, the Lakers gave the Six Nations Chiefs their second loss of the season. BLCs win was critical as it allowed them to keep pace with the Lakers in the standings.

It was Chris Boushy for BLC who registered the first goal before Thomson fired home two straight to give his Excelsiors an early lead.  The hosts went on a three-goal run in the last few minutes of that period. With the Excelsiors up 5-2 and 2:30 on the clock, BLC head coach Joel Johnson decided on a time-out call for a chance to settle his troops down. His words were met with immediate effect as BLC reeled off two straight in the final minute sending the teams to break with the visitors trailing 5-4.

Johnson’s words hung in the air, despite an early goal in that middle frame for the home side. Boushy scored with a bullet on the power play and Taggart Clark, in close and dancing just off the crease dropped one in to knot the game at 6-6. It was at this point that BLC gained control.  Holden Garlent with his first of the season scored on a breakaway and MacLeod with his second of the night made it 8-6. Bench boss Dan Teat had seen enough and gave the nod to former BLC keeper Riley Hutchcraft to take over in net. While the move stemmed the tide, BLC did manage two more that period. MacLeod scored his third as Thomson was given a delay of game penalty for tossing the ball away after an Excelsior loss of possession. The visitors took a 10-6 lead into the second intermission as fans filtered into the air-conditioned snack bar area to get out of the arena heat for a break.

In the other net, 2024 MVP Zach Higgins would be called on to feature his skills in that final frame. The BLC offense that had been so potent in the second frame disappeared in the third. Former BLC player Mike Triolo and Thomson with his third and fourth of the night allowed Brampton to claw back and it was 10-9 with five minutes on the board. Higgins and his defense pulled out all the stops and with grit and effort silenced the Excelsior shooters down the stretch to escape with a 10-9 win.

“We started off playing well and then lost focus for a little bit at the end of the first. I think we came out strong in the second and everyone focussed on doing their jobs and of course that resulted in a successful second period for us,” said Clancy Almas, offensive coach for BLC.

“In the third period we started to overthink it a little bit and I think their goalie change made a difference as Hutchcraft came in and played well. I think it’s clear how close the league is this year. We just played two one-goal games, the first against the top place team (Six Nations on June 28) and tonight against the team in last. We know It will take a full 60-minute effort for us to put some wins on the board ,” added Almas.

Scoring – Renaud (1,1) MacLeod (3,2) Columbus (0,1) Westley (1,3) Clark (2,3) Boushy (2,3) Miller (0,1) Garlent (1,0)

Next up BLC is in Oakville on Monday for a 7:30 game against the Rock. They return home on Wednesday July 16 at 8 pm to host the Owen Sound North Stars for their final regular season home game.

Notes – the draft pick duel went to Finn Thomson tonight as he scored four and assisted on four in addition to that costly penalty while Will MacLeod had three goals and two helpers in the BLC win.