LEVELLED: Flat starts cost Picton in split of weekend

JASON PARKS
PICTON GAZETTE-EDITOR

Whatever first period menace plagued the Picton Pirates (14-18-2) at home against Campbellford Thursday stalked them to Napanee Friday.

The trouble for the Picton Pirates is that the Campbellford Rebels are not the Napanee Raiders.

Hosting the visitors from the Trent Hills at Huff Estates arena Thursday night, the locals could be forgiven starting off flat, having not played since in half a fortnight.

But after about the ten minute mark, some gusty gales started to blow and Picton would fill the net of the Rebels in an 11-0 white wash.

Luke Amat made it back-to-back games with a goal with 6:12 to go in the first and the avalanche of goals came blasting down the mountain. Logan Calder added one of two and veteran Garrison Moore picked up his second of the season before the end of the first and Picton was sailing away at 3-0.

Cole Lavender (2), Reese Kleinsteuber (2), Kirk Stevenson, Parker Mattis and Owen Findlay would tally in the onslaught. Ameliasburgh sophomore Gerrit Kempers had three helpers in the game while rookie Kaiden Whitney had a pair of assists. The Belleville pivot continues to develop under Jeff Diamond’s tutelage.

Goaltender Nic McGrayne showed fine form stopping two dozen Campbellford volleys for his first junior goose egg.

The following evening, Picton’s flat start in Napanee would cost them four times before the game was a dozen minutes old and the host Raiders made off with a 6-2 win.

Mr. Lavender and Zack Brooks had goals the Pirates who return home Feb. 1 to play those same Raiders.