Merchants edged in overtime by host North Stars

By Sam Laskaris

They weren’t rewarded with any points in the league standings even though they were edged in overtime on Saturday. But members of the Brooklin Merchants who toiled in the club’s 12-11 OT setback against the host Owen Sound North Stars earned plenty of praise from head coach Clancy Almas. Despite the fact the Merchants were missing five key league veterans, they more than held their own against the North Stars, a squad that had defeated Brooklin 16-7 in its Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) home opener eight days earlier. 

The Merchants and North Stars were deadlocked at 10-10 after three periods of regulation play in Saturday’s outing, held at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. Owen Sound managed to eke out the W after outscoring the Merchants 2-1 in the 10-minute OT session.

“We’ve got to be extremely happy,” Almas said. “I know Owen Sound has a very good team and they’re trying to make a run for the league championship this season. For us to be able to hold our own against them just shows how bright of a future the guys on this team have.” 

The Merchants played Saturday’s contest with the services of captain Adam Perroni, assistant captains Dylan Goddard and Justin Bragg as well as league vets Cody Hamley and Eddie Renaud. Almas said the majority of those were unable to travel to Owen Sound because of work conflicts. Meanwhile, the Merchants’ organization certainly had to be impressed with the play of Zac Carrigan, who made his OSL debut with Brooklin on Saturday. Carrigan, a Nova Scotia native who recently moved to Ontario, had a team-high seven points, including four goals, for the Merchants. Darren Elliott also had a solid evening as he netted a hat trick while Quinn Hyland popped in a pair of goals. Scoring singles for the Merchants were Devin Pipher and Parker Pipher. Though he didn’t score, Brooklin’s Daniel May was also a key contributor in the match as he racked up five assists. 

With the loss, the Merchants’ record now stands at 2-2. Owen Sound improved its mark to 3-1. The Merchants return to action this Friday, May 26, when they host the defending league champion Six Nations Rivermen. That match, which will be held at the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena in Brooklin, has an opening faceoff scheduled for 8 p.m.