The second round of the Max Partlo Memorial Tournament in Tillsonburg delivered intensity, grit, and no shortage of physical play as the Dorchester Dragons took to the ice as the designated home team against the Tavistock Titans.
Already facing adversity before puck drop, the Dragons were without steady defensemen in the line up. Their absence loomed large against a Titans squad that came in bigger, heavier, and ready to lean into a bruising style of hockey.
From the opening faceoff, Tavistock made their presence known. The Titans threw their weight around, turning every puck battle into a war along the boards. With a loose-whistle approach from the officiating crew, the physical tone favored the Titans’ style. The smaller Dragons were scattered at times, absorbing heavy contact but refusing to back down.
Despite the pressure, Dorchester showed tremendous resolve in the first period. Goaltender Trent Pietarinen stood tall under heavy fire, turning aside quality chances and giving his team the chance to settle in. The Dragons bent but didn’t break, grinding their way to a hard-earned 0-0 tie after twenty minutes.
Just over a minute into the second period, Tavistock finally broke through, capitalizing on sustained zone pressure to take a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, they struck again. Suddenly, the Dragons found themselves staring at a 2-0 deficit.
But this group has fight.
Phoenix Stratton and Xavier Papel ignited a spark, moving the puck with purpose and finding red-hot forward Quinn Fournier in stride. Fournier, who has been on an absolute tear lately, took over from there. Battling through defenders in the neutral zone, he powered across the blue line, shrugged off pressure, and unleashed a blistering forehand shot that sailed over the Titans goaltender’s shoulder. The Dragons bench erupted as the deficit was cut to 2-1.
Head Coach Gardner’s message was clear: hold the line and don’t surrender momentum with an immediate response goal — a recent Achilles’ heel for the team. Unfortunately, history repeated itself. The Titans answered quickly, then added another in short order to regain firm control of the game. 3-1, 4-1.
The third period saw tempers flare and discipline tested. With the Titans continuing their physical dominance, much of the final frame became about survival and composure for Dorchester. Tavistock racked up 18 minutes in penalties in the frame compared to the Dragons’ six, as the game’s intensity boiled over. The Titans would add a late marker to make the final 5-1. The steep goal differential has the Dragons on the outside looking in on the playoffs and they are hoping to regroup.
Through it all, Pietarinen battled relentlessly in the crease, facing wave after wave of pressure and earning the team’s Hardest Worker honors for his efforts. Without his steady presence, the scoreline could have looked far different.
Ben Pink was named the Dragons Player of the Game, continuing to impress with his all-around performance. Whether driving play, supporting defensively, or battling along the boards, Pink’s consistency remains a cornerstone for the squad.
And the tournament’s Game MVP — awarded with a special medal — went to Quinn Fournier. His goal was a moment of brilliance in a hard-fought contest, and his recent surge in performance has been impossible to ignore. Shift after shift, Fournier has found another gear, delivering rock-solid play and emerging as a leader when his team needs it most.
The scoreboard may not have favored the Dragons on this night, but their resilience and refusal to fold under pressure spoke volumes. With lessons learned and fire in their hearts, Dorchester will look to regroup and come back in their next tournament test.
The Dragons play tomorrow afternoon for their tournament lives in the 3rd round of the tournament against the very tough Mount Brydges Cougars Red Squad who won 3-2 over the Dragons in their last meeting before the Christmas break. With a quarter final berth on the line Dragons fans will be there in support to see if they can manage to pull off the upset and stay alive.