Chiefs Stay Perfect, Roll Past Excelsiors Behind Byrne and Cloutier Outburst

By Gary Groob 

The Six Nations Chiefs (12-0) traveled to face the Brampton Excelsiors (2-12) in Major Series Lacrosse action Thursday night at the Memorial Arena in Brampton, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Doug Jamieson in net for the Chiefs facing Connor O'Toole in net for the Excelsiors. 

The Six Nations Chiefs showed exactly why they're the league's only unbeaten team, exploding for eight first-period goals and never looking back in a commanding 16-8 victory over the Brampton Excelsiors on Thursday night. Josh Byrne and Chris Cloutier spearheaded the offensive attack with five goals apiece, while Lyle Thompson added a hat trick as Six Nations improved to 12-0 on the season. Despite Brampton's efforts to claw back into the contest, the Chiefs answered every push with another offensive surge, showcasing their depth and firepower from start to finish.

Brampton refused to fold, getting multi-goal performances from Cody Innes and Tye Scott while Thomas McConvey continued his strong season with several key assists and a goal. The Excelsiors briefly cut into the deficit during the second period, but the Chiefs quickly regained control behind timely goals from Cloutier, Thompson, and Byrne. Doug Jamieson earned the victory in goal for Six Nations, while Brampton split the goaltending duties between Connor O'Toole and Riley Hutchcraft in a game where the Chiefs' relentless attack proved too much to contain.

To The Game:

The Chiefs got on the board first with Chris Cloutier scoring back to back markers.  The first was converting a Josh Byrne pass at 55 seconds, followed by a low laser to the corner off an Andrew Kew pass at 4:06.  Ryan Smith then added to the total scoring from the top of the crease off a Lyle Thompson pass at 6:06.

Tye Scott got the Excelsiors on the board with an outside screenshot off a Thomas McConvey pass at 7:16, but an outside blast from Josh Byrne had the Chiefs up by three again at 10:01.

Erich Acton got the Excelsiors closer with an outside laser off a McConvey pass at 11:16, but Lyle Thompson replied 42 seconds later from the side of the net off a Dhane Smith pass at 11:58.

Chris Cloutier then scored his third and fourth of the period.  The third was with a jump across the crease off a Dhane Smith pass at 12:32, followed by a behind the back pass from Josh Byrne to Cloutier in close at 13:25.  

Byrne then added a other with an absolute howitzer off a rebound from the backboards unassisted at 15:15.

The Excelsiors replaced Connor O'Toole with Riley Hutchcraft in net. 

Caleb Creasor went coast to coast off a long lead pass from a Riley Hutchcraft pass to give Brampton a bit of life at 19:02.

After one period, Six Nations 8 Brampton 3.

Second Period:

Dawson Theede opened the second period scoring from in close off a Dhane Smith pass at 6:13.

Cody Innes replied with a bouncrd shot off a Thomas McConvey pass at 8:18, followed by Reed Kurtz winning the faceoff and driving to the net scoring unassisted 8 seconds later.

Chris Cloutier stopped the Brampton run finishing an Ian MacKay pass from the top of the crease at 9:16, but Cody Innes finished a Thomas McConvey rebound to keep Brampton in the game at 10:19.

Lyle Thompson then fired a low to low laser off a Chris Cloutier pass at 14:56.

After two periods, Six Nations 11 Brampton 6.

Third Period:

Connor O'Toole went back in the Brampton net.

Josh Byrne blasted an Ian MacKay pass for his third of the game at 6:18, but Thomas McConvey kept the Excelsiors in the game picking up the Julian Race rebound at 7:18.

Josh Byrne then dove across the crease off a Matt Hossack feed at 7:58, followed  by Lyle Thompson with a blast on the power-play off a Byrne feed at 11:07. 

David Anderson added a sidearm snipe from the outside off a Josh Byrne feed at 13:31, but Tye Scott wired an Erich Acton pass at 14:58 for the Excelsiors showing they still had fight left in them.

Josh Byrne then scored his fifth of the night with a high to low shot off an Andrew Kew pass at 15:36.

Final score, Six Nations 16 Brampton 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Josh Byrne 
2. Dhane Smith 
3. Chris Cloutier 

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