Saturday, December 20 — Flight Exec CentreThe Dorchester Dragons closed out their fall season in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, hosting the Mount Brydges Cougars Red squad in a highly anticipated matchup at the Flight Exec Centre. With both teams sitting close together in the standings, everyone in the building knew this would be a tight, hard-fought contest.
Photo: The Dragons celebrate Christmas and the Holidays after their narrow loss to the Red Cougars.
As the 3:00 p.m. puck drop approached, Dragons fans packed the stands, the energy buzzing as announcer Mike Stubbs read off the home roster. Noticeably absent were forward Phoenix Stratton and defenseman Ethan Lobb, forcing the Dragons to adjust their lineup and lean heavily on teamwork and resilience.
First Period: Pietarinen Stands Tall
The opening frame belonged largely to the Cougars, who capitalized on Dragons turnovers and extended puck control in the defensive zone. Old habits crept in as Dorchester struggled to move the puck up ice cleanly, allowing Mount Brydges to fire shot after shot on goal.
But Dragons goaltender Trent Pietarinen was nothing short of outstanding. Calm, focused, and unshakable, he turned aside every chance, frustrating the Cougars and keeping the game scoreless. Thanks to Pietarinen’s heroics, the first period ended in a 0–0 tie despite heavy pressure.
The game also showed its physical edge early. Centre Cameron Gardner was sent sprawling by a hard body check, bringing trainer Taz Stratton onto the ice. Gardner would later show just how much heart he has.
Second Period: Momentum Swings
The first penalty of the game came just 1:30 into the second period when Mateo Duarte was called for tripping during a blue-line scrum. The Cougars took advantage, converting on the power play after a failed clearing attempt left Pietarinen helpless. Mount Brydges jumped ahead 1–0.
Dorchester responded with renewed energy. Sustained pressure in the Cougars’ zone led to several strong chances, with Harrison Austin drawing praise for his persistence and multiple net-front attempts. Still, the Cougars struck again late in the period, extending their lead to 2–0 with just 90 seconds remaining.
Just when it looked like the Dragons would head to the intermission deflated, a moment of brilliance changed everything.
In the dying seconds of the period, Quinn Fournier picked up the puck in the Dragons’ zone and, with excellent vision, spotted Gardner streaking through the neutral zone. Fournier delivered a perfect pass, sending Gardner in alone one step behind the Cougars defense. Despite defensive pressure and a flurry of stick checks, Gardner buried a forehand shot past the Cougars’ goalie with just six seconds left. The Dragons skated off energized, trailing only 2–1.
Third Period: Heart, Hustle, and Heartbreak
Dorchester carried that momentum straight into the third. Once again, Fournier started the play, moving the puck up to Jacob Hutchison, who fed Gardner for a partial break 1 on 1 against the last Cougars defender. Gardner dazzled, pulling the puck forehand to backhand through a defender’s legs before roofing the tying goal. It was Gardner’s 19th goal of the season, knotting the game at 2–2.
The action went end to end from there. Few shifts embodied the Dragons’ spirit more than one from Callum Lampkin. Outnumbered and beaten initially, Lampkin refused to quit, diving back to disrupt a shot, then laying out again to block another attempt, earning a roar from the bench and the crowd.
Dorchester thought they had found the go-ahead goal when defenseman Rowan Kusters blasted a shot that slipped through the Cougars’ goalie and trickled across the line. Celebration erupted, until the referee waved it off, ruling the whistle had blown before the puck crossed. With no video review at this level, the Dragons and their fans showed class, quickly accepting the call as play resumed tied 2–2.
Moments later, Mount Brydges capitalized with a goal of their own, taking a 3–2 lead.
The Dragons pushed desperately for the equalizer, but a costly too-many-men penalty with 2:36 remaining halted the comeback. Despite a valiant final effort, the score held, and the Cougars skated away with a 3–2 win.
Postgame Honors and Holiday Cheer
While the scoreboard favored Mount Brydges, there was no doubt about the Dragons’ standout performers. Trent Pietarinen earned Player of the Game honors after a heroic performance that kept Dorchester competitive from start to finish. Callum Lampkin was named Hardest Worker for his relentless effort and fearless shot-blocking.
Honourable mentions went to Harrison Austin for his net-front chances, Quinn Fournier for his two assists, and Cameron Gardner, whose two-goal performance nearly carried the Dragons to victory.
After the final buzzer, the day ended on a festive note as the Dragons enjoyed their holiday stocking gift exchange, with team parents and siblings filling stockings with treats and surprises, a fitting celebration of teamwork, effort, and the spirit that defines Dorchester Dragons hockey.
The fall season may be over, but a new chapter now begins as the league re-organizes into new tiers for a clean slate in January, and the Dorchester Dragons look to take the lessons learned in the first half of the season to grow into a stronger, more complete team in the months ahead.