You can take the monkey off of the backs of the Picton Pirates. 

It took three periods and overtime but the team is in the “Wins” Column. 

A collective exhale accompanied Isaih More’s second goal of the night and a 2-1 victory over the Lakefield Chiefs in the 2026 home opener. After suffering two shootout losses and a regulation loss to kick the year off, that puck trickling over the line was a welcome sight for Head Coach Rick VanVlack. The Pirates improve to 1-1-2 on the year.

“It’s kind of a different feeling, watching the OT winner go in. It’s nice to see the guys get the win,” said Mr. VanVlack. “For the most part we’ve been playing well, they just need to get their feet under them. Guys have to understand we have some good goaltending in the league. We have to get to the net and create traffic.” 

Charlie Blewett opened the scoring for Lakefield midway through the first period, before two penalties put the Pirates on their heels early in the second. Fortunately for Picton, the penalty kill was up to the task, killing off both slashing and roughing minors. The Pirates used the success on the penalty kill to calm the waters and launch an attack of their own.

But finding their way into penalty trouble has not gone unnoticed in the early days of the season.

“I know we can kill penalties. We’re good at it. Disciplined on the kill, but at the same time it’s nice to be five on five or be up a man,” Mr. VanVlack said. 

True to their name, Picton bombarded their opponents with volley after volley of attacks in the middle frame. Posts, crossbars, a last second deflection thwarting a wide open chance, you name it, the Pirates felt it in the second period. It was starting to look like the dam would never break when More whizzed a shot over the shoulder of Noah Groeneveld and finally cashed in. 

The two teams traded good chances throughout the third and Picton experienced a little more of the snakebitten feeling they had earlier, once again hammering Groeneveld to no avail. As it always seems to go, after nearly 20 grade “A“ chances, More’s overtime dagger looked like it had zero chance of threatening the Chief’s netminder off his stick. 

Pirates goaltender Cohen Bedore turned aside 39 of the 40 shots on goal he faced in the Picton net, while Groeneveld handled 30 of 32, the bulk coming during the barrage in the middle frame. 

“I think Bedore’s play speaks for itself. He’s good in the room, the guys love him. A lot of teams don’t have that good 1A and 1B situation with their goaltenders, and we’re very fortunate to have it with Bedore and (Nick) Perodo,” Mr. VanVlack said. 

The win was the first time the Pirates have been able to touch their home ice in any capacity. They had not even had the chance to practice in their own barn prior to puck drop. Mr. VanVlack said the team is happy to be settling in on home ice after starting the year on a three-game road trip. Discipline will likely be a focus. 

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. We have six returning players from last year, and we’re trying to find ice time. Discipline is going to be one of the things we have to work on this year. I don’t mind guys standing up for each other, but there’s a time and a place for it. We need to understand what that is. I don’t want to be at the top of penalty minutes,” Mr. VanVlack said. 

The Pirates had a quick turnaround and play Saturday against the Frankford Huskies. Up next, they take on the Port Hope Panthers, at the Prince Edward Community Centre on Oct. 1. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.