The McLean & Dickey Orillia Terriers opened their 2024/25 home schedule with a domiant 9-3 win over the Huntsville Otters on Saturday night.
Terriers’ captain Dylan Palomaki opened the home scoring just over seven minutes into the first period. He banged the puck past Otters’ goalie Austin Serbinek from behind the net after receiving a feed from newly acquired forward Lleyton McLean.
"Lleyton makes it easy out there," Palomaki said after the game. "He's always in good spots and moves the puck well."
McLean, who scored seven goals with the Carleton Place Canadians in Jr. A last year, says he's impressed with the competitiveness and work ethic of his new teammates.
"I'm loving it here," he said. "I'm going to school at Georgian in Barrie, so it's nice and close for me."
The Otters were quick to respond with back-to-back goals from forward Sam Litt, the second of which beat Terriers’ goalie Aidan Jerry after deflecting off a Terriers' defenceman. Jerry would go on to stop 21 Otters' shots.
Newly acquired forward Jordan Fuller made up for the friendly fire seven minutes later by sliding a rebound off a Palomaki shot past Serbinek to tie the game. It was his fifth goal of the season in just his second game. He would go on to score two more, moving his season total to seven.
"The new additions are meshing well," Palomaki said. "We already have a tight-knit group, and everyone is getting along really well with the new guys."
The Terriers started to pull away from their Highway 11 rivals eight minutes into in the second period. Forward Devon Edmonds sniped his first of the season from the top of the face-off circle on the right side.
Ten minutes later, defenceman Tyler Kelly snapped a wrist shot from the point, top shelf, giving the Terriers a two-goal lead heading into the third period where they turned a once close game into a dominant performance.
During their first possession of the third and after circling like offensive zone while peppering Serbinek with shots, Fuller was left unguarded and sniped one past the flailing goaltender. The star forward says this is the best start to a season during his career.
"I'm just shooting the puck and getting lucky," he said. "They're just going in for me right now."
Fuller, who scored 21 goals with the Jr. A Cobourg Cougars last year, says he already feels comfortable with his new team.
"We have a great group of guys here and we are bonding really well," Fuller said. "We have to clean up out d-zone a bit, but other than that we are playing good hockey."
Fuller admits the hockey was faster and more skilled in Jr. A, but he says Jr. C is more physical.
"Here, I can see the plays developing a little bit quicker," he said. "I have that extra second to read the ice."
While the Otters would score once in the third period, they were outmatched by the Terriers who would go on to tack on four more. Fuller, Wynston Martin, and two from Kaiden Robitaille would write a finish to the Otters' chances.
The Terriers out-shot their opponents 35-24 during the victory that brought 321 fans to Rotary Place on Saturday night.
Palomaki says the offensive performance showcased the Terriers depth.
"We have a deep team this year," he said. "We can roll any line at any time."
The Terriers, now 2-0 after opening the season Friday night with a road win in Pentang, head to Innisfil to take on the Spartans on Friday night.
The Terriers return to Orillia on Saturday to take on the Stayner Siskins. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Rotary Place
