Bilmer sends it home – Morrisburg Lions forward Cal Bilmer, number 22, notched his first goal of the pre-season on home ice, sending the puck past North Dundas Rockets goalie Reilly Tondreau late in the second period. The Rockets took an early 5-0 lead in the first period, and claimed a 9-2 win over the Lions September 14th. The game was the pre-season home opener for the Lions. (The Leader/Blancher photo)nnMORRISBURG – Pre-season action finished up for the Morrisburg Junior C Lions over the weekend, with the team squaring off against division rivals North Dundas and South Grenville.nnEntering the weekend, the Lions had one tie and one loss. Morrisburg had tied the North Dundas Rockets 5-5 the previous weekend, followed by being shut out by the Gananoque Islanders 8-0 on Wednesday.nnHosting the Rockets on September 14th, the Lions gave up five goals in the first period including a power play and a short handed goal. Early into the second period, three more goals in three minutes put the Rockets up 8-0. A goalie change switched out Max Eves for Riley Phillips between the pipes for Morrisburg. Halfway through the second period, Tyler Eldridge put the Lions on the score board with a chip shot past Rockets’ netminder Reilly Tondreau. Phillips had the assist on that goal.nnWith five minutes left in the second period, Morrisburg forward Cal Bilmer buried the puck past the right side of Tondreau. Lions trailed the Rockets 8-2 going into the third period.nRockets forward Justin Lefebvre scored his fifth goal of the night halfway through the third period, leaving the score at 9-2 for North Dundas.nnThe two teams duked it out in the final five minutes of the game, with Morrisburg picking up 57 minutes of penalties including for game misconducts, North Dundas 42 minutes including three game misconducts.nnThe Lions headed to Cardinal on September 15th to take on the South Grenville Rangers in that team’s new temporary home. The new digs did well for the Rangers as they beat the Lions 8-1.nnThe final pre-season match the following day was a rematch for the Lions and Rangers. After trailing 1-0 in the first period, Andrew Biancardi tied the game for Morrisburg in the opening minute of the second period. The tie didn’t last long as the Rangers sent three past Lions goalie Morgan Penwell in less than 40 seconds to take a 4-1 lead. Morrisburg pushed back, with newcomer Marc-Antoiné Doyon scoring two goals nine minutes apart in the second period. The Lions couldn’t get past the Rangers defence to tie the game and fell 4-3.nnThe Lions head to Gatineau to take on Vankleek Hill Cougars at the Robert Geurtin Arena as part of the season opening showcase September 22nd. Morrisburg travels to Clarence Creek on to take on the Clarence Castors on September 23rd.nnThe Lions host the Rockets at the Morrisburg Arena for their home opener September 29th, and host the Rangers on September 30th.
