The North Dundas Rep B Demons welcomed the Smiths Falls Bears to the Joel Steele Community Centre on Wed., Dec. 18, in the UCMHL. The Demons’ forward Jay-Zeus Mbarushimana (18) tries to push the puck past the Bears’ goalie Aiden Clarke as teammates Josh Lafrance and Jake Weber rush to the crease. Mbarushimana didn’t score on this chance but did pick up an assist later in the game to help the Demons get past the Bears 4-3. Moore photo

WINCHESTER—The North Dundas Rep B Demons played a pair of games leading up to the Christmas break in the UCMHL as they travelled to Cardinal on Dec. 16 to take on the South Grenville Rangers and welcomed the Smiths Falls Bears on Dec. 18.

Demons 4 Bears 3

The North Dundas Rep B Demons welcomed the Smiths Falls Bears to the Joel Steele Community Centre on Wed., Dec. 18, in the UCMHL. The Demons were riding a five-game winning streak. They went into the game in a second place tie with the Kemptville Royals with 25 points each and sat eight points behind the first place Brockville Braves. 

The Bears opened the scoring just 1:55 into the first period taking a 1-0 lead. The Bears made it 2-0 at 5:29 but the Demons answered at the eight-minute mark when Jake Weber snapped one to the back of the net from Jay-Zeus Mbarushimana and Josh Lafrance. 

The Bears added a late first-period goal at 11:12 and took a 3-1 lead into the second period. The Demons got back to within one as Nathan Epps fired one home unassisted with just 1:19 remaining in the second period but trailed 3-2 heading into the third period. 

The Demons knotted the affair at three when Marcus Bols slammed one home unassisted at 4:25 of the third period. The teams battled to try to grab the lead and it was the Demons who took their first lead of the game as Epps scored his second of the game with just 2:03 remaining in regulation. 

The Demons hung on for a 4-3 victory. With the win, the Demons are now in sole possession of second place moving to within six points of the Royals and hold a game in hand. 

The Demons outshot the Bears 32-21. Picking up the win in the Demons’ goal was Liam Sergeant making 18 saves.

Demons 2 Rangers 1

The North Dundas Rep B Demons travelled to the Ingredion Centre in Cardinal on Mon., Dec. 16, to take on the Rangers in the UCMHL. The Demons went into the game in third place, two points behind the Kemptville Royals but had won their four previous games. 

The teams battled to a scoreless first period but the Rangers opened the scoring at 8:36 of the second period. The Rangers took a 1-0 lead into the third period. The Demons tied the game when Gavin Eikelboom slammed one home from Patrick Guy and Ryan Wilson at 13:27. 

The game appeared to be headed for a one-all draw but with just 16 seconds remaining, the Demons pulled a rabbit out of the hat as Eikelboom scored his second of the game from Carter Williams. 

The Demons hung on to take the game 2-1, winning their fifth consecutive game and moving to a two-way tie with the Royals. Picking up the win in the Demons’ goal was Kolton Belmonte.

Up next

The North Dundas Rep B Demons welcome the Char-Lan Rebels to the Joel Steele Community Centre on Wed., Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. and travel to the Smiths Falls Youth Arena on Sat., Jan 11, to take on the Bears at 12:20 p.m. and to the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Kemptville on Sun., Jan. 12, to take on the Royals at 3 p.m.