In the face of a muscular challenge by the visiting Trent Hills Thunder, the Picton Pirates turned in one of their most complete efforts of the season Thursday night.

Picton (7-3-2, 16 points) was full value for their 5-1 over the Thunder, peppering Trent Hills netminder Christian Lambert with 60 volleys. But even in spite of the glut, the contest was not a cakewalk.

Thunder coach Doug Mathew must be given full credit for his club’s turnaround. In years past, the Campbellford contingent wasn’t a winning enterprise and contests could get out of hand. But he has his club playing in form — and willing to exert a physical toll on the opposition.

They did on this night in a game that was rough and tumble in the corners and death-defying on open ice should a puck carrier have forgotten to keep a head up in the neutral zone. 

Pirates skipper Jamie Lane said rolling his four lines and exploiting Picton’s incredible depth was key to withstanding the challenge. 

“I was pleased with tonight’s effort. We rolled four lines start to finish and generated 60 shots along with a dozen quality scoring chances that just didn’t fall,” Mr. Lane noted. “Defensively, we’re starting to come together, limiting time and space, taking away good ice, and making it tough for teams to create anything easy.”

Pipe Dreams

Picton came close to landing on the score sheet early, tickling the iron a couple of times behind Mr. Lambert without causing any damage. The Pirates finally went bar and in with 1:56 left in the opening stanza. Keenan Wiles wired a roof job over Mr. Lambert to make it 1-0 in favour of the hosts at the end of 20 minutes.

In the second, Ben Smith showed some puck smarts behind the goal line, banking his first of the year off Mr. Lambert’s back and safely into the Trent Hills twine tent 2:31 into the second.

Later in the frame, Pirates sniper Luc Amat showed why it’s better to be lucky AND good. The Roblin native’s 11th of the season was a product of a Gerrit Kempers shot from the boards. The puck took a circuitous route to the Trent Hills net. When the disc finally stopped bouncing off bodies, it landed flat at the side of the goal and Mr. Amat had a two foot tap in for Picton’s second tally of the period.

Looking Ahead

Mr. Amat had a hand in his club’s next goal as well as he fed Beckham Brooks for a snapping one time at the side of the Trent Hills net 40 seconds into the third period.

For Mr. Brooks, it was his first PJHL goal since coming over from the Wellington Dukes last week.

Trent Hills finally solved Picton’s Nolan Lane at the 7:18 mark when former Pirate Owen Ellis spotted Keegan Juchau in the slot area to make it 4-1. Mr. Lane turned in a tidy, 27 save effort for his sixth win of the campaign.

But the Pirates would win this one going away. Mr. Amat’s second of the game and 12th of the season came just three minutes later as he took Gerrit Kempers’ pass in the slot and beat Mr. Lambert high to the glove side.

Mr. Amat’s latest tally put him one behind in the PJHL goal race currently led by Mark Gibson of the Dunnville Mudcats.

With the win, the Pirates moved into a tie with Amherstview for first place in the Tod Division with 16 points

The Pirates remain idle through the weekend and resume activities on Thursday when they host Lakefield.