Whenever Chris Jackins, long the main presence in the Burton nets (2000-2007) returns home from Australia, it is always a cause for celebration. It is also a cause for hockey, and today was the day for his return. It was also Seamus O’Connor’s 2011 BUSH debut, having only played in the May SuperSession. It was supposed to be Justin Gordon’s return as well, but at the last minute he once again failed to show (apparently he even used the word ‘retirement’; we used the word ‘cowardice’. And Seamus and I drank the Arizona iced tea Justin left in Chris' cooler, so there).

With Andrew Watson in transit getting off the lake, it started off with quick 3-on-3 action in the sweltering Arrow Lakes sun. Mitch Zorn went in net for the first half of the session, allowing Carter Stenseth to make his debut on skates. Sticks in the middle gave us Mitch, Seamus, James and K.J. against Chris, Andrew Likness, Carter and Lee. Chris was welcomed back to Burton rather quickly with two K.J. breakaways right off the bat. He saved both of those, but the tide turned quickly as Team Mitch got up 3-0 with Seamus on fire. Drew, Carter and Lee powered back to 3-2 and were easily leading the shot count, but Team Mitch was too much. Seamus pointed out while James and K.J. had four points each. Chris was having trouble in the heat, going 7-for-12, and that would carry over into Game 2, where Seamus continued a path of destruction as he figured in on the first four goals. Mitch would be in the .860s once this game was done, as even though Lee and Andrew were peppering him all game, he kept his cool. Despite being outshot nearly two-to-one, Team Mitch won with ease 5-1.

Once Chris finally got used to being in the heat, however, he was back to his old self. He would be put on an oldtimers (everyone over 30) team with Seamus, James and Lee against Likness, K.J., Carter and Mitch. The Seamus-James-Lee combo was deadly as numerous tic-tac-toes broke the young guns 5-2; Seamus grabbing another four points. Chris climbed from the .615 he had been sitting at all the way to .744 just in this game alone as he turned away shot after shot. Game 4, though, was much closer, as K.J. broke out here with four points. It would come down to a golden goal, where Seamus won a faceoff right back to Lee, who skated up and sent it home past Mitch to end the series.

Andrew Watson was here at this point, giving the crew a sub in the stifling heat, and Mitch switched out of goal in favour of Carter. The two Andrews and the two O’Connors were the sub team with Carter in goal against Chris’ crew of Lee, Mitch (on four wheels total) and James. Both goalies were in full stride from the get go here, but the sub made the difference here, keeping Team Carter fresh. K.J. led the way in scoring as Team Carter won 5-3. Game 6 was a slugfest with Lee and K.J. trading blows back-and-forth on the scoreboard (K.J. would get the first four goals for Team Carter). There was a very controversial moment to end the game. Andrew Likness was the last man back for Team Carter as Lee was sent down the rink on a certain scoring chance. Drew’s wheel blew out, and Seamus called out to stop play. Lee didn’t hear, scored the golden goal on Carter, and the team walked off after an apparent series-tying win. After some discussion, it was called back and the game was reset to 4-4. Lee was given a penalty shot which Carter saved, and play resumed. A short time later, Watson sunk a beautiful tic-tac-toe to take the series for Team Carter.

The sun finally went down behind Ingersoll, and the final series was played in refreshing shade. The O’Connors stayed together, paired with Mitch and Chris against the Andrews, Lee, James and Carter. Lee would get some unintentional revenge for being denied the game-winning goal in the previous game when a collision with Seamus sent Lee’s stick into Seamus chin, opening up a rather bloody gash that leaked all over Seamus’ neck and chest (unfortunately, my camera was out of batteries at that point). Watsy patched it all up with his first aid kit, and we were good to go. This was another knock-down drag-out as once again it went to a golden goal before Team Chris notched the winner. This was the breakout game for Andrew Likness, who had three points and ten shots on goal in this game. The chemistry he found with Lee and James continued into Game 8, as he would put up four points on Lee and James’ goals en route to a 5-2 win. James really showed his scoring touch for the first time today. Carter stood on his head here, going from .803 to .829 in just one game. We ended almost exactly at 9 pm, a perfect time to call the session. A great day with lots of great hockey and good friends, not to mention some of the biggest offensive numbers of the year. No rust whatsoever from Seamus, and Chris shook his off by the third game, not to mention career-best sessions from James, Andrew Likness and Carter.

Seamus broke out early for a mess of points and held onto the lead all day, although K.J, started making it close around Game 4. In the end, Seamus finished with 11G and a season-leading 18A to edge K.J. by a point, 29-28. K.J. had 19G on 70 shots along with 9A. Close behind in third was Lee at an even-handed 13G-13A. It was a breakout session for Jamie tonight as he obliterated all of his previous career marks. With 18P in the first six games, James finished at a solid 11G-11A. Andrew Likness put up seven points in the final two games and also grabbed himself a 15-pointers including 11A. In goal, Carter was at the top of the list with a career-best .829 as he just got better and better all night. Mitch finished at an even .800, while Chris started sloppy in the first two games (16/26, .615) but was a stellar .844 in the final six games to rise up to .774 at the end of the day on 119 saves.

Here are the game scores:
Mitch Seamus James K.J. def. Chris Likness Carter Lee 5-4 5-1
Seamus James Lee Chris def. Likness K.J. Carter Mitch 5-2 5-4
Likness Watson Seamus K.J. Carter def. Lee James Mitch Chris 5-3 5-4
Seamus Mitch K.J. Chris vs. Lee Carter James Watson Likness 5-4 2-5

Faceoff Stats (unofficial):
Lee Orr 18/28 (64.86%)
Andrew Likness 12/22 (54.55%)
K.J. O’Connor 8/15 (53.33%)
Seamus O’Connor 7/15 (46.67%)
Carter Stenseth 4/9 (44.44%)
James Hewlitt 3/7 (42.86%)
Andrew Watson 2/6 (33.33%)
Mitch Zorn 5/16 (31.25%)

There was VRH action at Ambleside today as well, so you'll find the usual rankings and season and all-time stat summaries in the VRH write-up when that boxscore gets posted tomorrow!