PICKERING, ON (Jun 22, 2023) — The Toronto Beaches took home their second straight win on Thursday night, as they beat the Burlington Blaze 15-7 at Pickering Rec Centre.
Forwards Willem Firth (4G, 3A) and Matt Collison (4G, 2A) continued to find success in this game. The OJLL’s top two goal scorers finished with eight combined markers in the victory. Greg Palmer (1G, 4A) and Peyton Booth (1G, 3A) also chipped in offensively, along with the rest of the Beaches’ forwards who helped pace the team up front.
Andrew Kidd was once again a rock in net for the Beach, turning away 33 Blaze shots for his eighth win of the campaign.
Right off the bat, the Beaches came out with fire on both sides of the ball. They were rewarded with two straight goals from Collison and Booth just under five minutes in. A Braedon Saris tally got Burlington on the board, but Firth answered with his first of the night before Collison followed up with two straight to complete his hat trick — his seventh three-plus goal performance of the season.
An end-to-end transition marker from Josh Fairey made it a 6-1 advantage for the Beach in the first. But the Blaze pulled closer to end the opening period. Alex Marinier would get two of his four on the night off out outside rips to end the period. But Firth got his second in between the pair to give Toronto a 7-3 advantage after one.
The second started off on a slower note for the Beaches, but they continued to push and were rewarded for it. After a Ty English goal to open the second, Jacob Hickey got his 15th goal of the year off a quick stick connection on the back post with Booth. Off the ensuing draw, Eoin MacKay got his second of the summer after scooping the loose ball and turning up floor for the transition marker.
Toronto added three more. Nathan Pouliot scored his first of the night, and Firth added two straight to put the Beach ahead 12-4. Another late Marinier marker pulled Burlington a goal closer, but the hosts still led by seven heading into the final period.
The Beaches outscored Burlington 3-2 in the final frame. Collison converted his fourth of the game before back-to-back goals for the Blaze from Alexis Simard and Marinier. But Hamish McPherson finished off a beautiful passing play with 5:38 to play, and Greg Palmer added the final goal for Toronto on an outside shot.
The Beaches move to 8-7 for the year with their fifth straight victory in the Sand Box. The team will have the next six days off before returning to action on the road against St. Catharines.