The Morrisburg Lions travelled to the Ingredion Centre in Cardinal on Sat., Sept. 14, to take on the South Grenville Rangers in their second preseason game of 2019. The Lions’ veteran forward, Cal Bilmer rushes down the right wing during the first period. The Lions didn’t get the outcome they desired as the Rangers dominated, taking the game 6-1. Moore photo

CARDINAL—The Morrisburg Lions had three preseason games booked for this past week as they welcomed the West Carleton Inferno to the Finch Arena on Tuesday night and travelled to Cardinal on Saturday night to take on the South Grenville Rangers. The Lions were supposed to go to Kanata to take on the West Carleton Inferno for a rematch on Sunday afternoon but were short players and had to cancel.

Rangers 6 Lions 1

The Morrisburg Lions travelled to the Ingredion Centre in Cardinal on Sat., Sept. 14, to take on the South Grenville Rangers in their second preseason game. The Lions dropped their preseason opener 7-4 to the West Carleton Inferno and looked to even their record. 

The Rangers opened the scoring at 12:13 of the first period as Cooper Kingston scored an unassisted goal to take a 1-0 lead. The Rangers made it 2-0 when Jacob Servage netted one again unassisted at 15:51 and 3-0 as Hayden Sayeau pounded one home from Brody Ranger and Jacob McGonegal at 16:31. 

The Lions cut the deficit to two when Jack Ingram fired one home from Justice Brownlee with just 1:23 remaining in the first period. The Rangers took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. The teams battled to a scoreless second period taking the 3-1 score into the second intermission. 

The Rangers made it 4-1 when Servage snapped one to the back of the net from Jared Fenlong and Brody Ranger at 7:40 of the third period. The Rangers continued their assault and at 15:14, Matthew Berry buried one from Servage to make it 5-1 and Joe McLean pounded one to the back of the cage from Berry at 15:51. 

The Rangers hung on for a 6-1 victory handing the Lions their second straight preseason loss. Picking up the win in the Rangers’ goal were Sam Limoges Ring and Xavier Dusadlon and suffering the loss in the Lions’ goal were Riley Phillips and Justin Leclair.

Inferno 7 Lions 4

The Morrisburg Lions welcomed the West Carleton Inferno to the Finch Arena on Tues., Sept. 10, for their first preseason game of the 2019-20 season. The Lions added some much needed help during the off-season signing a few players from the CCHL2 and a couple of rookies. 

The Lions opened the scoring when Tanner Barnett ripped one home for the point on the power play from Noah Edmonds at 10:19 and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Inferno surprised the Lions with two quick goals to open the second period at 1:59 and 2:48 taking the lead. 

The Inferno made it 3-1 at 3:54 but the Lions cut into the deficit at 5:25 as Brennan Markell slapped one home from Kylan Tavares and Barnett on the power play. The Inferno responded with a pair of goals at 14:42 and 16:26 taking a 5-2 lead. 

The Lions got back to within two as Aaron Smith pounded one to the back of the net from Jack Ingram and Justice Brownlee at 17:28. The Inferno took a 5-3 lead into the second intermission. The Lions closed the gap to one when Tavares slid one home unassisted just 1:35 into the third period. 

The Inferno answered with a goal at 8:59 to take a 6-4 lead. The Inferno closed out the scoring with 3:12 remaining in regulation and hung on for a 7-4 victory. Suffering the loss in the Lions’ goal were Justin Leclair and Darrin Taylor.

Up next

The Morrisburg Lions head the NCJHL Showcase on Sat., Sept. 21, at the Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau to take on the North Dundas Rockets at 2 p.m.