Chiefs Roll Over Pirates 7-3

December 8, 2025

Picton no match for motivated Lakefield club

Picton’s Wesley Jackson and Lakefield’s Braeden Derks keep close watch on the puck Thursday night. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

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Chiefs Roll Over Pirates 7-3

Jason Parks
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The Picton Pirates were offered a lesson in summoning motivation Thursday evening.

Whether the young Provincial Junior Hockey League squad retains anything from the instruction put on by the visiting Lakefield Chiefs remains in the offing. But it was a lesson in experiential learning complete with demonstration.

Two nights removed from getting whitewashed at home 5-0 by the visiting Napanee Raiders, the Tod-Division leading Chiefs arrived in Picton as a salty bunch. Lakefield was ready and willing to take out their frustrations on any player wearing a Pirates sweater.

The visitors played their trademark physical, playoff-style game for 60 minutes and left the homeside in the dust of a 7-3 decision.

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

The Chiefs got off on the right foot with a Nick Stinson goal at 9:46.

Picton had a number of glorious chances in the first to break the ice only to miss open nets or tickle the iron behind Lakefield’s newest acquisition Braeden Derks. Mr. Derks was picked up from the Clarington Eagles just hours after Tuesday night’s shutout loss to the Raiders.

Picton’s Gavin Wallace had a goal an an assist in his Pirates debut. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

Picton finally broke through in the first when their newest acquisition Gavin Wallace poked the puck underneath Mr. Derks at the 16:53 mark of the first. Mr. Wallace, a Kingston native, was picked up from the Trent Hills Thunder for a Player Development Fee.

But there were signs this wasn’t going to be Picton’s night.

Less than a minute later, Charlie Blewett blew it past the short side of Picton’s Nolan Lane to quickly re-establish the Lakefield lead.

Then, early in the second with Picton on a power play, the Chiefs swarmed the locals with a high pressure forecheck and Matt D’Angelo’s shorthanded goal 47 seconds into the second was enough to founder the Pirates for good. For much of the remainder of the game, Lakefield arrived first to the puck and in ill humour.

Lakefield popped a pair at the midway point to extend the lead to four goals.

Mr. Wallace’s shot at 14:18 created enough of a juicy rebound for Joey Bonter to bat home his 4^th of the season to get Picton within shouting distance at 5-2 but the Chiefs continued to beat a path to the Picton net in the third.

Wesley Jackson managed a pair of helpers in a 7-3 loss. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

A Gerrit Kempers shorthanded effort set up by Wesley Jackson was sandwiched by a pair of Lakefield tallies. The game got extremely chippy late and Lakefield’s Lucas Legualt took swing at a Pirates skater as the buzzer sounded, making inadvertent contact with an on-ice official. Mr. Legault was assessed a major penalty and is looking at a lengthy layoff from PJHL action.