The Picton Pirates are partway through a season opening three game road swing and the returns are positive.

Starting almost a week behind other Tod Division squads who have two or even three games to their credit so far, Picton was able to skate into Napanee on Friday and pick up a point by way of a 3-2 overtime set back to the host Raiders.

On Sunday, the Pirates skated away from the host Trent Hills Thunder 5-1.

On Tuesday, the Pirates sail into Lakefield for their first test against the Chiefs and Picton finally returns to port on Thursday to welcome the Port Hope Panthers for the home opener.

Skating Away

On Sunday, Ben Smith set up one time Trent Hills defenceman Caleb Martin on the powerplay with just over seven minutes left in the first to put Picton ahead 2-1 and the Pirates never looked back.

Jakob Gardner fired home his first of the year late in the second to make it a 3-1 lead and Keenan Wiles and Wesley Jackson each lit the lamp in the final frame to make it a 5-1 final. Luc Amat opened the scoring in the first.

Getting his second consecutive start, Picton net minder Nolan Lane made 33 stops for his first win of the campaign.

Close but no cigar

In the season opener on Friday, Picton outshot the Raiders 41-34 but ex OHLer Jacob Brown loomed large in the Napanee net, leaving multiuple Pirates shooters wondering what they needed to do to get a puck past the Yarker, ON product.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead to the dressing room after the first thanks to a powerplay goal off the stick of Mr. Wiles in the eighth minute.

A more energized host club came out in the second and goals by Spencer Cranley and Reid Lambert turned the tables in favour of the Raiders.

Down a goal in the third, the Pirates were the better squad for most of the period and busted through with another power play tally at 5:15. Standing in almost the exact same place from where he scored in the first, Mr. Wiles sent a volley towards the net that was tipped by captain Gerrit Kempers. Mr. Brown had not chance on the equalizer.

Tied 2-2, Napanee managed a few good tests towards Mr. Lane who came up big on the goal line for Picton. Not to be outdone, Mr. Brown preserved the tie game with a couple of goal mouth stops in the late going.

In overtime, much of the play stayed in the Napanee end but a loose puck ended up on the stick of Trent Williams who converted on a breakaway chance at the 3:32 of the extra session.

After hosting the Panthers, Picton heads to Amherstview on Sunday.

The Raiders are in Picton on Thursday, October 2.