Toronto, ON: The Patriots visited the Dixie Beehives at Etobicoke Ice Sports, facing them for the second time during this season after losing 5-4 on September 13^th, but redeemed themselves tonight by defeating the Beehives by the imposing score of 9-5.

Although the game appeared fairly even for the first period, it was Dixie's Daniel Purcell who gave the Beehives a 1-0 lead over the Patriots, when at the nine minute mark, managed to score one low past Patriot goaltender Matthew O'Connor. Two minutes later the Patriots recovered with a goal from new Patriot Jeff Schilling, assisted by forward Billy Lovatsis, but was quickly followed by another Beehive goal to retake the lead, Brendan McCann at 17:18. Nearing the end of the period, Patriots down 2-1, it was the hard-hitting Darren Turner who scored his third of the season, tying up the score at 2-2 at the period's end.

The Patriots hit the ice strong, and by driving at the Beehives net, scored two quick goals; the first from Domenic Calabrigo, also new to the Patriot line-up, assisted by forward David Italiano; and the second by Michael Sicilia from Turner and Gagliese, within five minutes of the start of the second. Dixie managed to sneak one past O'Connor, bringing the score to 4-3, just before the Patriots took over the second period with four mid-period goals; the first of the bunch from forward Matthew Galati, a powerplay goal assisted by defensive force Matt O'Neill; followed a minute later from Nikita Poliakov, garnering his eight goal of the season and first of the game, from defenseman Marko Brelih and Sicilia. Brelih scored his first goal of the season at 12:37, also on powerplay, from Poliakov and Sicilia; and Billy Lovatsis scored a five-hole goal on Beehive goaltender Michael D'Angelo, assisted by Schilling and forward Justin Brooks, bringing the Patriots lead at the end of the second to a substantial 8-3.

"I think playing more games lately has helped us learn to play as a team, develop stronger puck playing and communicate better," commented second-year Patriots' forward Ryan Martin. "Dixie was a must-win game, and after Friday night's game against Newmarket, we came into this knowing that we had to win, and nothing else."

The third period presented Dixie with two opportunities to score, capitalized on by both Derek Perl at 3:24 and D. Harquair at 10:18. Unfortunately for the Beehives, the Patriots scored its final goal of the game, a shot from the Russian Rocket Nikita Poliakov within seconds of the final buzzer, assisted from the forward tandem of Sicilia and Turner.

Upper Canada outshot Dixie 41 to 34, played consistent hockey and maintained control over the majority of the game. Mention to new Patriot forward Jeff Schilling, who both scored and assisted in his first game with Upper Canada, and defenseman Joey Gagliese, for his first assist as a Patriot. Nikita Poliakov and Michael Sicilia both garnered four points tonight; Poliakov with two goals and two assists, and Michael Sicilia, one goal and three assists. Forward Darren Turner reaped a three-point game (one goal, two assists), and both Billy Lovatsis and Marko Brelih earned two points, one goal and one assist each.

Upper Canada is just two points shy of the Hamilton Red Wings and the Streetsville Derbys in the CCHL standings, and three points of North York Rangers and the St. Michael's Buzzers; the Patriots take on the Seguin Bruins at the Humphrey Community Center at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, to gain the points needed to close the gap and raise their standings. This Friday, October 30^th, the Patriots host Minor Hockey Night at the MasterCard Center for Hockey Excellence - all minor hockey players wearing their team jersey and/or costume receive free admission to watch the Patriots take on the Streetsville Derbys, 8 p.m.