Collison And Firth Lead Beaches To Win Over Oakville

On Wednesday, the Toronto Beaches defeated the Mimico Mountaineers 10-7 to move into fourth in the OJLL standings. Hosting the Oakville Buzz on Thursday, they had a chance to jump another spot into third. With a 15-9 victory they do move into a tie for third place, extending their win streak to six.

Greg Palmer opened the scoring for the Beaches, just under three minute into the first period. Toronto would lead 4-1 midway through the frame thanks to a pair of goals from Willem Firth. He would actually have a first period hat trick, and Matt Collison had five first period points, leading the Beaches to a 6-3 lead.

Oakville would answer back in the second. Jack MacAlpine had three points in a three-goal-in-2:41 stretch that also included goals from Eddie Qu and Brian Jackman. Firth and Collison regained the lead for Toronto, but it was just 9-7 after two.

Jackman got one back early for the Buzz, but then it was Toronto running off six straight, starting with three goals in 1:44 to cap a 6-2 period, and 15-9 victory, their sixth straight and eighth in nine games.

Willem Firth (5 goals, 2 assists) and Matt Collison (4 goals, 4 assists) combined for nine goals and 15 points. Firth passes Oakville’s Koleton Marquis for second in league points with 105, just 4 behind Mimico’s Finn Thomson. Collison now leads the OJLL in goals (51), one ahead of Firth (50), who is one ahead of Burlington’s Alex Marinier (49).

Jack MacAlpine (2 goals, 2 assists) and Wll Sheehan (2 goals) were the only multi-goal scorers for Oakville.

The Toronto Beaches will finish their regular season July 9 at the ILA against the Six Nations Arrows (6-11). A win for Toronto will clinch the third overall seed, as Thursday’s win gives them the tie-breaker over Oakville. Six Nations will be playing the second of a back-to-back looking for a win to claim the final playoff spot.

Oakville will finish their regular season at home against the Burlington Blaze (14-5) on July 8.