Shootouts are back in the Provincial Junior Hockey League. And that is just fine with the Picton Pirates.

The PJHL resurrected the penalty-shot competition as a way of ending deadlocked hockey games after a seven-minute 3-on-3 overtime period for 2025-26.

And in their last two contests, Picton has shown a  penchant for shootout drama. Following a 7-6 shootout win in Lakefield Tuesday, the Bucs bested the Amherstview Jets 4-3 Thursday night in similar fashion.

Pirates goal-getter Jakub Gardner motored to the slot area before picking the glove side corner on Jets starter Tyson Wilcox to open the shootout with a successful tally.

That’s all goaltender Nolan Lane needed. Mr. Lane blanked Thomas Elkins, Carter McKee and Brad Wilson to give Picton the winning edge.

With the win, the Pirates improved their record to 4-3-2. As of Friday morning, the Tod Division resembled a log jam: only four points separated first place Napanee and sixth place Trent Hills.

Comeback

It was a gutty, comeback effort by Picton who never led until Mr. Gardner’s tally in the shootout. Mr. Wilson opened the scoring midway through the first but the Pirates were able to square the affair with just under four minutes in the opening frame.

Hulking rearguard Cole Mulder’s point blast was successfully blockered by Mr. Wilcox. But the rebound bounced off Gerrit Kempers in the slot,  tangling in Amherstview’s mesh to make the score 1-1.

In the second, the Jets pulled ahead early with a pair but Picton was able to stay close in the second half. Mr. Mulder fired a laser beam that Mr. Wilcox flubbed at 12:32 to make it 3-2 in favour of the visitors. Linemate Caleb Martin added the only helper on the scoring play.

In the third and down a goal, Picton’s offence conditioned to flow through the Guelph product.

Mr. Mulder’s point blast at 7:38 was kicked out by the Amherstview goaltender. But the puck went right to an awaiting Colby Leaver who snapped home a tap in, drawing the Pirates even at 3-3. The three point outing for Mr. Mulder, 17, gives the rookie five points in eight PJHL games this season.

The Pirates return to home ice Thursday the 16th when they host Frankford.