Pirates tame Huskies as Lane posts first junior shutout

The Picton Pirates turned in a workman like effort on Thursday night in a 4-0 win over the visiting Frankford Huskies Thursday which featured Picton’s first shutout of the season.

The clubs were set to do battle on Saturday night as part of the back end of the home-and-home set however the seas were far to rough to sail and a power outage in the village of Frankford around 5 p.m. meant even if the club did make the journey, a game couldn’t be guaranteed.

“I know our equipment man Jack Broadbent was travelling to the game a little early and called and said there was a large tree down on Highway 33 that was blocking the Carrying Place bridge and at that point, there were trees down blocking roads all throughout Prince Edward County,” Picton’s General Manager Jason Parks said. “I appreciate Frankford’s General Manager Ian Green reaching out and offering a postponement of Saturday’s game.”

The Pirates were able to shake off a heartbreaking last second loss in Campbellford Dec. 4 and needed some smart goaltending to do it.

The Huskies outshot the Pirates 12-10 in the opening stanza and Wellington native Nolan Lane needed to be sharp to keep Frankford from staking a lead.

“I thought Nolan showed some great maturity, knowing that we could have an uh-oh moment if a goal went in early against us,” Parks said.

Picton would pot three in the second to take a lead they would not relinquish.

Jack Dow continued his hot streak, batting a Devin Morrison rebound in from the slot at 6:30 that would put Picton head to stay.

Just over a minute later, Picton turned in a nice play off an offensive zone face off as Landon McLellan controlled the draw back to Owen Dever who in turn teed up Noah Brant at 7:33.

Perhaps with last weekend’s multi-goal led that evaporated in the third, the locals had a dagger off the stick of leading scorer Owen Dever with just 20 seconds remaining in the frame.

Once again a three foot pass came into play as Brant made a nifty dish from in front of the Huskies net to a streaking Dever who a tap in for Picton’s third tally.

Dever was dynamite in close again in the third frame as he redirected a McLellan feed on the power play at 15:43 to make it 4-0.

“Owen was our player of the month nominee for November and he’s continued to shine for us,” Parks noted. “He’s been a clutch performer for this organization and I know he’s really relished this role in his final season of junior hockey.”

From there, Lane was tested a few times but managed to come through with a clean sheet for the club’s first shut out of the 2021-22 campaign.

The Pirates out shot the Huskies 36-30 and take on the Port Hope Panthers at home on Thursday evening.

Picton and the Panthers play the backed of the home-and-home on Saturday at the Jack Burger Sports Complex in Port Hope.