PETERBOROUGH JR LAKERS DEFEND HOME FLOOR AGAINST OAKVILLE BUZZ

An Oakville Buzz defender chases the Peterborough Jr Lakers ball carrier in the Buzz season debut. (PHOTO: OJLL // C Robertson)

The Oakville Buzz became the final OJLL team to play their first game in 2025 on Monday when they travelled to Peterborough’s Memorial Arena. The Junior Lakers showed impressive defence again, and rode a five-goal run in the second period to notch their first win of the season – 9-5.

Despite early power plays for each team, there was no scoring for most of the first half of the initial period until Nate Sage scored, playing his first game of the season. Charlie Boon responded for Oakville less than a minute later, leading to two more Buzz goals and a 3-2 visitor’s lead after one.

Much like the first period, Oakville killed off an early penalty to then score on a power play of their own. Curtis Ward then bookended a five-goal run spanning most of the second period that also saw Riley Simpson, Hayden Addison and Carson Christy score for Peterborough. Boon would get one back in the final few seconds, but the Lakers led 7-5 heading into the final period.

Not only did 2023 first round pick Waukiigan Shognosh stop all 16 shots faced in the third, but Sage and Ward scored again, the latter completing his first career OJLL hat trick, eventually helping Peterborough to a 9-5 win.

Curtis Ward led the Lakers with a career-high four goals (4/1). Nate Sage (2/1) was the only other Lakers player to score multiple times. Waukiigan Shognosh earned his first career OJLL win stopping 43 of 48 Oakville shots.

Charlie Boon led the Buzz with four points (2/2). Liam Luzza, Jameson Steele and Finn Morgan scored the other Oakville goals. Zach Constantopoulos faced 54 shots in his season debut and fourth career OJLL start.