Live by the home opener, die by the home opener.

After a lengthy road swing to kick off the 2025-26 Provincial Junior Hockey League season, the Picton Pirates finally turned up at their home port Thursday and used the momentum to skate away from the visiting Port Hope Panthers with a 5-2 decision.

But on Sunday, Picton travelled to Amherstview to tangle with the Jets. That Kingston-area club was forced from their home hanger for nearly a month as full scale renovations were completed at the W.J. Henderson Arena.

The hosts wasted little time in pleasing their home crowd and beat a path to the Picton net early and often, doubling the Pirates 8-4.

With the split, Picton’s record moved to 2-2-1, good enough for fourth in the Tod Division.

Jet Set

After an emotional tribute to the late Don Ley, a key component to the Amherstview executive for nearly 20 years, the Jets soared out to a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. Special teams were the order of the frame as the hosts potted both a power play goal and shorthanded tally.

In the second, the Pirates managed the only goal of the frame. Jakob Gardner set up Cole Stevenson 2:12 into the stanza to solve Amherstview starter Tyson Wilcox.

But the third verse was very much like the first. Amherstview once again scored three straight including a power play goal and a shorthanded marker as the Pirates special teams play was especially pourous.

Picton finally figured out how to capitalize on the power play without getting scored on and team leading sniper Luc Amat doubled down with a pair on the man advantage 2:10 apart, making the score 6-3. The Roblin native has six goals in five games thus far into the campaign.

But one time Pirate Carter McKee potted a dagger at the 13:10 mark.

The Pirate responded when Mr. Gardner fed Keenan Wiles just 45 seconds later but the Jets salted away the game with a shorthanded empty netter from Andrew White with just over three minutes left in the contest.

Pulling Away

After a scoreless first period on Thursday, the Pirates and the Panthers traded goals in the second.

Spencer Eriksson had the ice breaker for the Cats, firing home a power play tally 42 seconds into the second stanza that came at the end of a lengthy two man advantage.

Picton didn’t take long to respond. Mr. Amat fed rearguard Owen Findlay for a one timer at the 1:27 mark to square the affair at 1-1.

Mr. Amat was in on the second goal as well, feeding Gerrit Kempers near the goal line. The Picton captain bested Port Hope netminder Aidan Cowan low to the short side, potting a short handed tally at 8:35 that pushed Picton in front 2-1.

The Panthers responded with a power play goal by Tyler Challice at 10:41. The visitors were handed a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead just under three minutes later when Christian Sokoljuk was awarded a penalty shot but Picton’s Nolan Lane came up big to deny the Panther forward.

Picton finally went ahead for good at the 15:13 mark when Mr. Wiles found Mr. Gardner for a one time power play slap shot that was in the net in less than a nanosecond.

In the third, Cole Mulder landed on the score sheet in a big way. Just 46 seconds into the period, the hulking Guelph product barged his way in from the blue line and fired his first junior hockey goal to make it a 4-2 spread for the locals.

Then in the late going with Mr. Cowan on the Port Hope bench for an extra attacker, the rookie dialled long distance, sending a laser from his own blue line and into a yawning Panthers cage, making the final 5-2 in favour of the hosts.

Up Next

Picton tries to climb above the .500 mark on Thursday when they host the Napanee Raiders. The locals are on the road Sunday when they travel to Trent Hills.