While it’s a near mathematical certainty they won’t be in the same position after the weekend, the Picton Pirates rose to greet the sun on Friday, January 10 with the knowledge they were tied for first place in the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s Tod Division.

By virtue of their 8-1 thumping of the visiting North Kawartha Knights a night prior, Picton improved their record through 33 games to 22-9-1 which tied them at 46 points with circuit-leading Frankford. The Huskies have three games in hand on the Bucs which includes a home-and-home series with Port Hope that kicked off Friday night so Picton’s claim of a share of the Division lead could have evaporated within hours of press time.

Napanee and Amherstview also have games in hand on the locals and are lurking in the wake of the Pirate ship with just four points separating Picton and the Raiders and Jets, respectively.

But no one observing the activities of the PJHL and the Tod Division can deny the Picton Pirates, somewhat of an unknown entity heading into the 2024-25 campaign, have firmly inserted themselves into the conversation as to which team top the Tod when the regular season ends February 17.

“We came into the season wanting to provide the players a great junior hockey experience and we’ve invested into our program with skills coaches and extra ice time and you are seeing the results of that investment,” Picton bench boss Jamie Lane told the Gazette. “We are excited to see what we can do over the final few weeks of the season and every game is going to be a four point match-up.”

Facing a team with exactly one win to its credit, the Pirates were guilty of sparing the whip of the first 40 minutes of play on Thursday. While taking an edge in territorial play, the Pirates led the Knights 3-1 at the end of the second period and it was still anyone’s game when play commenced in the third period.

But the frame started out bang for North Kawartha and not in a good way. Knights defender Cole Webster took the opening faceoff and jumped Picton’s Colby Leaver, drawing an instigation minor and a fighting major for his troubles.

Picton’s rookie defenceman Issac Krentz set off a five goal outburst with a scoring rush from his own goal line, cutting into the high slot and firing a bullet past North Kawartha starter Parker Robbins 1:58 into the stanza.

The Pirates added a powerplay tally a little over four minutes later when Parker Mattis tapped home a loose puck in the slot at 5:36 to make it 5-1 Picton.

Picton rookie Trevor Brooks bagged his 13^th of the campaign at the 9:36 mark when he took Nolan Rosebush’s pass from the slot and beat Mr. Robbins high to make it 6-1.

Second-year Pirate Reese Kleinsteuber doubled down in the late going, converting on a breakaway at 15:03 for his third marker of the season and then batted home a loose puck in the slot with under two minutes left to make it an 8-1 final.

The Pirates lead 2-0 after 20 minutes thanks to goals by Keagan Carr and Mr. Rosebush.

The Knights lone bright spot on the night came in the first minute of the second when 16-year-old rookie Calenn Williams went high to the blocker side 13 seconds into the middle frame.

Picton responded at the 4:23 mark when Cole Stevenson fired home his 16^th of the year on the power play. All told, Picton cashed in four times with the man advantage and their penalty kill unit was spotless including a lengthy two man disadvantage at the end of the second when the game was still close at 3-1.

ON BOARD WITH THE PIRATES: The club was considering a number of moves in front of them on Friday as the January 10 Hockey Canada trade deadline loomed…The team welcomed Grimsby’s Matt Sadler Thursday night. The Autism advocate has a goal of singing Oh Canada in 50 junior rinks in Ontario this season and was able to check Huff Estates Arena off the list. The hockey club presented Mr. Saddler with a cheque for $500 for the Bursary of Hope for Autism. The BOHA is an Ontario registered, non-profit organization that raises funds to support families struggling to get ABA therapy for their children with autism. For more information visit www.bursaryofhope.com.