Not much to choose between MoJacks and Bruins

PORT PERRY -- Four points separate the Port Perry MoJacks and Uxbridge Bruins in the standings, but there isn't much to choose between the two in any of the other statistics.

Even the coaches of the top two teams in the Central Jr. C League agree.

"I don't think so," said Bruins coach Craig Donovan when it was suggested there isn't a whole lot of difference between the two teams, while MoJacks coach John Blackburn was a little more definite, "No there's not."

That much was evident at the Scugog Arena on Sunday night, when a late goal by MoJacks captain Corey Skene was the difference in a 4-3 victory. It was the fifth win in a row for the MoJacks, who sit atop the standings with a 12-4-0-0 record.

"If you look at all the stats, there's not a lot of difference. That's why both teams are where they are at," said Blackburn of the North Durham rivals, who have now split the season series at two wins apiece.

"We know when we play them it's going to be a battle."

That was certainly the case Sunday, as the teams were tied 1-1 after the opening period, with the MoJacks pulling ahead 3-2 through two periods.

"You have two pretty fast teams, pretty physical teams that both move the puck very well and capitalize on other team's mistakes," said Donovan in critiquing the teams. "It's going to be that way between these two teams all the way through the season."

The quick start the Bruins got off to, undefeated through the opening nine games of the season, has dissipated of late. They have won just once, with a couple of ties sprinkled in, in the last six outings. Donovan feels his team has moved away from the things that contributed to their success, namely working hard on the forecheck.

"When we've forechecked well we've had success this year turning the puck over on other teams. We have got away from it lately."

The MoJacks, on the other hand, seem to have caught their stride of late, winning seven of the last eight. Their success can be traced to getting pucks deep, pucks to the net, and winning battles along the boards, notes Blackburn.

"A real key to our success this year is taking the neutral zone away and not letting the opposition come through with speed."