DORCHESTER, ON — November 1, 2025 — The day after Halloween may have brought a few tired legs, but the Dorchester Dragons showed plenty of spirit in a tight, hard-fought 1–0 loss to the Thamesford Attack in regular season action Saturday afternoon.
After splitting their preseason series 1–1, both clubs came into the matchup with something to prove. But with trick-or-treating and the Blue Jays’ World Series excitement the night before, Assistant Coach Todd Pietarinen and Head Coach Gardner could tell their squad was a bit off its routine during warmups. Still, they used the pre-game talk to refocus the players, reminding them that recent battles with Thamesford had all come down to effort and discipline — and that several U15 Dragons scouts were in attendance watching for future prospects.
Adding to the excitement, legendary broadcaster Mike Stubbs, the voice of the London Knights, made a recording to introduce the Dragons lineup. The professional-style player introductions, organized by the dedicated Dragon Moms volunteer group, gave the young players a thrill as they skated onto the ice to cheers and raised sticks.
The first period was a defensive showcase, with goaltender Trent Pietarinen standing tall under heavy pressure. The Dragons struggled to find their legs early, spending four minutes in the penalty box compared to Thamesford’s two. Despite the imbalance, Dorchester’s penalty killers kept the game scoreless through the first period.
The momentum began to shift in the second period. The Dragons came out stronger, dictating play and generating quality scoring chances. Quinn Fournier nearly opened the scoring when his quick-release shot appeared to slip through the goalie’s pads, but officials ruled it hit the post. Minutes later, Dexter Hacche had the Attack netminder scrambling after a nearly missed shot in tight, but luck wasn’t on Dorchester’s side as the 0–0 tie held through two periods.
At intermission, Coach Gardner praised his team’s resilience. “We had a rough start and took too many penalties, but we’re finding our game,” he told them. “Now it’s time to dig deep.”
The Dragons came out determined in the third, applying pressure early, but penalty trouble continued to haunt them. “We can’t be in the box a third of the game and expect good things to come from that,” Gardner noted afterward, referencing the team’s 10 penalty minutes in 35 minutes of game play.
With several veterans serving time, rookie forward Hudson Burroughs was given the nod to spark the offense. Forming a line with Ben Pink and Phoenix Stratton, Burroughs made an immediate impact, battling behind the net and nearly scoring on a wraparound attempt that forced a sharp save.
Thamesford finally broke through late in the third, capitalizing on a rare defensive lapse with just three minutes to play. Dorchester responded by pulling their goalie in the final minute, pressing hard with six attackers, but despite several near misses, the Attack held on for the narrow 1–0 win.
Despite the loss, there were bright spots across the lineup. Burroughs was named Player of the Game for his energy and near goal, while Dexter Hacche earned the Hardest Worker Award for his gritty, disciplined play. Goaltender Trent Pietarinen also impressed, turning aside numerous high-quality chances to keep the Dragons within striking distance all night.
The Dragons won’t have long to dwell on this one — they’re right back at it Monday night, hosting long-time rivals, the St. Thomas Stars, in what promises to be another exciting matchup.